Waterbury Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and Narcotics Offenses

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that BRANDON SAPP, 28, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm and heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 5, 2014, Watertown Police observed SAPP drive up to a residence on Franklin Avenue and conduct what appeared to be a narcotics transaction with another individual standing outside of the home.  When officers attempted to stop his car, SAPP pulled away at a high rate of speed.  In the ensuing pursuit, SAPP struck a police vehicle, exited his car and fled on foot.  He was apprehended a short time later.

A search of the route through which SAPP had fled revealed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and a search of his car revealed three 9mm firearm magazines, 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition and approximately 375 baggies of heroin, many of which were marked with the label “Obsession.”  SAPP also possessed approximately $990 in cash.

On January 22, 2015, SAPP pleaded guilty to one count of possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Watertown Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni.