Hartford Man Sent To Prison On Gun Possession Conviction: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man will spend more than five years behind bars after his sentencing this week for an illegal firearms possession conviction.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. attorney for Connecticut, said Wednesday that Anthony Santos, also known as “A-1,” 36, of Hartford, was sentenced Tuesday in Bridgeport federal court to 5.25 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing firearms.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Oct. 17, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Hartford Police Department conducted a court-authorized search of Santos’ apartment on Park Street in Hartford.

Avery said, when investigators entered the apartment, Santos ran to the window and threw out a loaded assault-style firearm with a high-capacity magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition.

She said the firearm landed on a rooftop below and was recovered.

Inside the apartment, investigators seized, three firearm magazines, ammunition, a small amount of fentanyl, large bags containing bulk quantities of marijuana, thousands of bags of marijuana in pre-packaged sleeves, drug processing and packaging materials, jewelry, and approximately $4,070 in cash, Avery said.

A search of two vehicles associated with Santos parked near the apartment revealed a loaded Smith &Wesson .357 revolver and a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, both of which had been reported as stolen, according to Avery.

She said the Glock was fitted with an illegal “switch” that converted the pistol to a fully automatic weapon.

One of the vehicles contained a backpack with numerous bags of marijuana and approximately $3,290 in cash, authorities said.

Santos’ criminal history includes state convictions for narcotics distribution offenses.

Avery said 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.

Santos has been detained since Oct. 17, 2023. On Aug. 6, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms by a felon.

For the full announcement, click on this link.