Virginia Man Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison For Trafficking Firearms To Connecticut

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHARLES MATTHEW WILSON, also known as “Matt,” 26, of Roanoke, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from Virginia to Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Between June and August 2012, Jawawn Ricardo Hale, of Roanoke, sold a total of seven firearms and a quantity of ammunition to an individual in Connecticut.  Hale acquired the firearms from WILSON and others in Virginia, and then transported the firearms to Connecticut.  Leshel Branch, of New Haven, assisted Hale in the transportation and distribution of the firearms.

On August 23, 2012, WILSON, Hale and Branch traveled to a location in New Haven where Hale sold two firearms to an individual in exchange for $2,400.  Shortly after the transaction, the car carrying the three defendants was stopped by law enforcement.  $2000 was recovered from the interior of the car and $400 was seized from WILSON’s person.

WILSON has been detained since his arrest on August 23, 2012.  On December 14, 2012, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.

WILSON’s criminal history includes a 2006 conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and a 2012 conviction for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and he faces violation of probation proceedings in Virginia.

Hale and Branch have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.

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