Groton Man Posed As Trooper To Buy High-Capacity Magazines: Police

GROTON, CT — A Groton man was arrested on charges that he faked being a state trooper in an attempt to buy high-capacity magazines, according to state police.

State police searched the home of Donald Leduc, 56, on Monday afternoon and said they found a fake police badge, two high-capacity magazines, three fake police IDs, body armor, and 76 rounds of rifle ammunition, according to police.

Leduc was taken into custody on a warrant. He was charged with two counts of sale/purchase of large capacity magazine, four counts of impersonation of a police officer, criminal possession of body armor, criminal possession of firearm ammunition, and third-degree forgery.

A North Carolina gun shop representative contacted the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Protection on Dec. 8 to ask about the validity of an auxiliary trooper ID card Leduc provided. The representative thought the ID card was fraudulent and requested verification before fulfilling the order, according to an arrest warrant.

The high-capacity magazines Leduc ordered were only allowed to be sold to law enforcement in Connecticut. Leduc attempted to buy two 60-round magazines.

The state Special Licensing and Firearms Unit put Leduc's name in the system and advised that he is a convicted felon with "mental health hit for self-admission as well as conservatorship," according to an arrest warrant.

Leduc is also a convicted felon banned from owning guns in Connecticut.

Leduc was held on $200,000 bond and scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Wednesday.