Hartford Man Sentenced To Prison For Gun Trafficking: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man was sentenced to prison Tuesday for his role in a large gun trafficking operation.

Marc H. Silverman, acting U.S. attorney for Connecticut, said Algelly Diaz, 42, of Hartford, was sentenced Tuesday in New Haven federal court to four years of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a firearm trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, members of the FBI Waterbury Safe Streets Task Force conducted three controlled purchases of nine total firearms from Diaz’s associate in Waterbury.

Silverman said a joint investigation revealed Diaz’s associate was acquiring numerous firearms, most purchased by straw purchasers from licensed gun dealers in Kansas and then shipped through the U.S. mail, to a stash location Diaz maintained in Hartford.

Diaz’s associate then obtained the firearms, which included assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, from Diaz and sold them to others throughout Connecticut, Silverman said.

Diaz is a previously convicted felon who cannot lawfully purchase or possess firearms.

The investigation further revealed, that between August 2020 and May 2023, one of Diaz’s co-conspirators purchased at least 73 firearms from a licensed gun dealer in Deerfield, Kansas.

Authorities said Diaz and multiple co-conspirators were arrested on May 19, 2023.

On that date, investigators executed search warrants at locations in Connecticut, Kansas, and California.

A search of Diaz’s residence revealed approximately 90 rounds of ammunition, Silverman said.

In addition, a court-authorized search of a package that was shipped to Diaz and seized from the mail stream revealed an additional three firearms, he said.

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