Meriden Man Involved In Home Invasion Admits Illegal Firearm Possession, Violating Supervised Release

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHANE LEVERETTE, also known as Shane Baltas, 44, of Meriden, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.  LEVERETTE also admitted that he violated conditions of his supervised release from a previous federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 16, 2011, at approximately 10:40 p.m., LEVERETTE and an accomplice, who was armed with a handgun, entered a residence in Middlefield for the purpose of stealing money and drugs.  LEVERETTE and his accomplice were dressed in black and wearing baseball hats with a DEA logo and gloves, and had bandannas covering their faces.  Inside the residence, LEVERETTE located and stole a semi-automatic rifle.  He and his accomplice then threatened two adults with their firearms and directed them to remain seated on the bed.  After demanding money, the accomplice struck a male victim with the handgun, causing the victim’s head to bleed, and the handgun discharged.  LEVERETTE and his accomplice then searched the bedroom for drugs and money.

After receiving a 911 call, the Connecticut State Police and Middletown Police Department arrived at the scene and surrounded the residence.  LEVERETTE and his accomplice surrendered and were arrested and charged with state offenses.  Law enforcement officers also seized the accomplice’s handgun and the semi-automatic rifle that LEVERETTE had stolen.

Prior to February 2011, LEVERETTE had sustained multiple federal and state felony convictions.  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.  The rifle that LEVERETTE possessed had been manufactured in Hungary.

In February 1999, LEVERETTE was sentenced in federal court in Massachusetts to 151 months of imprisonment for racketeering, narcotics and firearm offenses.  He was released from federal prison on April 23, 2007, and was serving a five-year term of supervised release at the time of the Middlefield home invasion.

Judge Hall has scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2013, at which time LEVERETTE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 for illegally possessing the firearm.  He also faces up to five years in prison for violating his supervised release.

LEVERETTE has been detained since his arrest.

This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Connecticut State Police and the Middletown Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter S.  Jongbloed.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

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