Hartford Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SETH WATSON, 30, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 16, 2012, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received information from the Hartford Police Department’s Shoot Team regarding five individuals who had purchased ammunition from a sporting goods store in East Hartford the previous day.  All five of the individuals, including WATSON, were convicted felons.  The investigation revealed that WATSON and others had purchased one box of 9mm ammunition, one box of .38 Special ammunition and one box of .45 Auto ammunition.  Each of the boxes contained 50 rounds.

The investigation further revealed that the individuals stored firearms and ammunition in the basement of a residence on Pliny Street in Hartford.  A court-authorized search of the residence on July 18, 2012, revealed most of the ammunition that had been purchased on July 15, 2012, as well as a loaded 9mm handgun, a loaded .38 caliber revolver, a loaded pistol grip shotgun, and additional rounds of ammunition.

WATSON has been detained since his arrest on July 20, 2012.  On April 30, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by a previously convicted felon.

WATSON’s criminal history includes at least eight felony convictions, including a conviction for burglary in the first degree.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the East Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.