Employee Of East Windsor Gun Store Is Sentenced

Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KRYSTOPHER DiBELLA, 25, of West Suffield, was sentenced today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport to three years of probation for assisting in the transfer of firearms to individuals who failed to complete required forms at the gun store where he was employed.  He also was ordered to pay a $250 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2008 to August 2012, DiBELLA was employed at Riverview Gun Sales, which used to be a federally-licensed firearms dealer in East Windsor.  On several occasions during his employment at Riverview Gun Sales, DiBELLA transferred firearms to individuals who failed to respond to certain questions on the ATF Form 4473.

On June 24, 2013, DiBELLA pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the failure to make a proper entry on an ATF Form 4473, a form that must be completed by individuals who purchase firearms from federally-licensed firearms dealers.  The charge against DiBELLA stems from a sale that occurred on March 15, 2010.  On that date, DiBELLA failed to have a purchaser of a firearm, who was a non-immigrant alien, answer a question on the form regarding U.S. citizenship.

As a special condition of his probation, DiBELLA will not apply for a Federal Firearms License (FFL) or to be a responsible party for an FFL for the entire probationary term.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an investigation of Riverview Gun Sales and discovered approximately 300 examples of false or missing information in Riverview’s acquisition and disposition (“A&D”) records.  The investigation also revealed at least two instances in which individuals received firearms prior to receiving approval from the national instant criminal background check system (“NICS”).  Riverview also failed to report the theft of a firearm within 48 hours, and failed to report multiple sales of handguns to the same individuals.

On August 22, 2013, David Laguercia, the owner and operator of Riverview Gun Sales, pleaded guilty to one count of transfer of a firearm before completion of background check, and one count of failure to maintain proper firearm records.  Laguercia also entered a guilty plea on behalf of Riverview Sales, Inc. to one count of making false entries in dealer’s records.

Laguercia and his business await sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Spector.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov