Norwalk Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANDEN HUERTAS, also known as “Branden Holloway,” 34, formerly of Norwalk and last residing in Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

On May 13, 2014, HUERTAS was arrested by Bridgeport Police after he engaged officers in a foot pursuit.  After HUERTAS was apprehended, officers located a black bag containing a loaded .22 caliber revolver that HUERTAS had discarded during the chase.  At the time, HUERTAS was out on bond on state charges stemming from a series of arrests in 2014 for state domestic violence charges, including strangulation in the second degree, unlawful restraint and assault in the third degree.  He was also subject to a protective order that requires he surrender or transfer all firearms and ammunition.

HUERTAS has a lengthy criminal history that dates to 1998.

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.  It is also illegal for a person who is subject to a protective order to possess firearms.

On May 28, 2015, HUERTAS pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

As a special condition of supervised release, Judge Arterton ordered HUERTAS to abide by the terms and conditions of the protective order issued in connection with the state charges, which is in effect through 2025.  The protective order requires that HUERTAS refrain from any contact with the victim, and that he stay at least 100 yards away from her.

“Our Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who illegally possess firearms – particularly those defendants who engage in acts of domestic violence or other violent offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Daly.  “Working closely with our state and local partners, we aim to ensure that federal resources are used most effectively to support these investigations and to protect vulnerable victims and our communities.”

This matter was investigated by the Bridgeport Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alina P. Reynolds in collaboration with the Domestic Violence prosecutors of the State’s Attorney’s Office, Fairfield Judicial District.

U.S. Attorney Daly noted that victims of domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233), or visit www.thehotline.org.  Victims in Connecticut also can call the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) hotline at 888-774-2900 or (English) or 844-831-9200 (Español).