West Haven Man Arrested On Federal Gun, Drug Charges

WEST HAVEN, CT — A West Haven man faces federal gun and drug charges, according to authorities. A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Brian Melendez, 31, of West Haven, with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, officials announced Monday.

Authorities said Melendez was found Jan. 7 in the possession of .22 caliber ammunition and a distribution quantity of cocaine within 1,000 feet of the Washington Elementary School in West Haven.

“It is further alleged that, in 2008, Melendez was convicted in North Carolina of possession of a weapon of mass death and destruction,” officials wrote in a news release. “In 2010, he was convicted in Connecticut of carrying a pistol or revolver with a permit.

“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.”

If convicted, Melendez faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison on the firearm charge, and 40 years of imprisonment on the cocaine distribution charge.

Melendez, who was arrested July 31, is detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for Aug. 7.