Crime & Safety

Man Accused of Fixing Shipping Labels to Intercept 'Machine Guns'

A man is accused of doctoring shipping labels to obtain firearms, state police said.

WILLINGTON, CT — A 31-year-old Hartford man is accused of fabricating shipping labels to intercept guns through a pair of jobs he held simultaneously, state police said.

Marlon Hamilton was arrested on Sept. 10, records show. He is charged with two counts of stealing a firearm and 17 counts each of third-degree identity theft and second-degree forgery, according to a report.

Hamilton is also facing charges that include third-degree larceny, the illegal possession of a large-cap magazine (two counts), firearms trafficking (two counts), the use of a machine (four counts) and marijuana possession, according to a report.

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Hamilton appeared in court on Sept. 11. His initial $750,000 bond was reduced to $400,000, which he did not post. He is due back in court on Sept. 28, judicial system records show.

The case dates back to July 17, when a manager at the FedEx Ground hub in Willington received notice that two firearms designated for shipment were missing, according to a warrant.

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Security monitoring systems showed a discrepancy in tracking numbers and it seemed a "fraudulent" label turned up on a firearms shipment that had guns being sent from Konica Minolta Business and not FedEx, according to a warrant.

Hamilton was employed as a package handler at FedEx and also at Konica Minolta in Windsor, according to a warrant. He was facing termination at FedEx because of an "attendance problem," according to a warrant.

The guns intercepted were Smith & Wessson "AR-15 style rifles," and Smith & Wesson "M&P 15-22 sport rifles," according to a warrant.

State police also found marijuana during a search, according to a warrant.

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