Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging ANTHONY MORALES, 29, of Waterbury, with possession of a firearm a by a convicted felon.

The indictment was returned on May 7, 2019, and Morales was arrested today.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty to the offense.  He is detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for May 17 at 10:30 a.m.

As alleged in the indictment, on January 19, 2019, Morales possessed a Taurus, Model 85, .38 caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition, and an additional 13 rounds of loose ammunition.  Prior to that date, Morales had been convicted of state robbery, larceny, assault and narcotics offenses.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

If convicted of the charge, Morales faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Waterbury Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

This prosecution has been brought though Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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