Hartford Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Gun Charge: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm after police recovered a Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device during a 2024 traffic stop attempt.

Dashaun Dwyer, 31, of Hartford, entered the guilty plea on Monday, March 9, before Kari A. Dooley, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, during a hearing in Bridgeport, according to federal prosecutors.

David X. Sullivan, the U.S. attorney for the district, said Dwyer pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Police pursuit and arrest

According to court documents, officers with the Hartford Police Department attempted to stop Dwyer on Nov. 11, 2024, as he drove along Albany Avenue.

Authorities said Dwyer had absconded from state parole and was being sought by law enforcement.

Police said Dwyer accelerated and drove recklessly through side streets before jumping from the moving vehicle and fleeing on foot.

The vehicle rolled to a stop against a fence on Main Street.

Officers apprehended Dwyer a short distance away.

A search of the vehicle uncovered a 9mm Glock pistol fitted with a machinegun conversion device, commonly called a “switch,” along with a loaded extended magazine.

Investigators also found distribution quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine and $10,257 in cash.

Prior convictions

Federal prosecutors said Dwyer previously was convicted in state court of felony offenses, including robbery, assault, and narcotics crimes.

Under federal law, people convicted of felonies are prohibited from possessing firearms that have traveled in interstate or foreign commerce.

Sentencing scheduled

Dooley scheduled the sentencing for June 3. Dwyer faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison and has remained detained since his arrest.

For more information on the case, click on this link.