Snapchat Pics Show New Haven Man, 22, With Firearms, Ammo: Feds

NEW HAVEN, CT —A 22-year-old New Haven man pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charges, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut announced.

After getting a warrant to search Tyriq Martin's Snapchat account, investigators found images where he was in possession of guns, said Vanessa Roberts Avery. Martin pleaded out to possessing ammunition by a felon, she said.

According to Avery, court documents and statements made in court, a court-authorized search of Martin’s Snapchat account in the spring of 2022 found "numerous photos of Martin in possession of firearms."

In June 2022, New Haven Police arrested Martin in the area of Ferry and Chatham streets on an outstanding state warrant for firearm and narcotics offenses, prosecutors said. At the time of his arrest, he had a loaded Polymer 80 homemade firearm and a search of the car Martin was seen driving revealed 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, Avery said.

In July 2021, Martin was convicted in state court of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, for which he was sentenced to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after 16 months, and three years of probation, prosecutors 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, the US Attorney said.

Held since his 2022 arrest, at sentencing, which is not yet scheduled, Martin faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, Avery said.