New Haven Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that TOMMY BATTLE, 35, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 22, 2015, a search was conducted at the residence of BATTLE, who was a parolee.  During the search, a parole officer discovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, which contained a magazine that held 10 9mm rounds.  The firearm was manufactured outside of the U.S. and was previously reported stolen out of the State of Virginia.

BATTLE’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including a conviction for criminal possession of a weapon.  He had been released from state incarceration approximately two months prior to the search of his residence.

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.

BATTLE has been detained since his arrest on April 22, 2015.  On October 1, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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