Derby Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession, Violating Supervised Release

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALBERT LOPEZ, 42, of Derby, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a previous federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 2, 2011, a Connecticut State Trooper seized a loaded 9 millimeter pistol from LOPEZ‘s waistband. LOPEZ was released on bond but failed to appear for his state court hearing. On April 15, 2011, LOPEZ was arrested by the United States Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force as he tried to flee from another person's residence.

Prior to April 2011, LOPEZ had been convicted of multiple felony offenses in Connecticut state court and federal courts in both Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Specifically, LOPEZ has been convicted of second degree assault with a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of contraband by an inmate, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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.

LOPEZ has been detained since his arrest on April 15, 2011. On September 4, 2012, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

On March 3, 2008, LOPEZ was sentenced to 47 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. He was released from prison in March 2010 and was on supervised release at the time of his arrest in April 2011.

Judge Underhill sentenced LOPEZ to five years of imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and a consecutive one-year prison term for violating his supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the Connecticut State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Freimann and Ndidi Moses.