New Haven Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Gun Charge

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEROME T. WALKER, also known as “Ratchet,” 26, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 14, 2014, officers from the New Haven Police Department conducted a traffic stop of WALKER, who was driving with a suspended license, in the vicinity of Norton Street and Elm Street.  After initially pulling over, WALKER accelerated from the scene at high rate of speed.  A short time later, New Haven and Hamden Police officers found WALKER’s vehicle parked at a residence on Warner Street in Hamden.  Officers then observed WALKER walking in front of the residence and he was placed under arrest.  In the vicinity, officers found a duffel bag containing a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and a set of car keys belonging to the vehicle that WALKER had been driving.

WALKER has previously been convicted of multiple felony 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.

WALKER has been detained since his arrest.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on February 17, 2015, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Haven Police Department and the Hamden Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Kaplan and Jennifer Laraia.  

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