John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of
Connecticut, announced that LUIS NIEVES-FELICIANO, 41, of Hartford, pleaded
guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to
drug and firearm offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court,
on May 4, 2019, agents with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services
(“DRS”) arrived at Broad Street Liquors, located at 1949 Broad Street in
Hartford, to conduct a routine permit/cigarette inspection. When they entered, Nieves-Feliciano, an
employee of the store, was standing behind the counter. Nieves-Feliciano immediately concealed items,
struggled with DRS agents, and eventually fled the store.
The DRS agents then contacted Hartford Police and a
court-authorized search of the store revealed a loaded Kel-Tec, Model P11, 9mm
semiautomatic pistol, approximately 45 grams of cocaine packaged for
distribution and a quantity of marijuana packaged for distribution, all of
which was located on or behind the store’s counter. A second 9mm pistol, a box of ammunition,
approximately 112 grams of cocaine, approximately $13,000 in cash, and personal
items and documents belonging to Nieves-Felciano, were located in the basement
of the store.
The search of the store also revealed several cigarette
packs that had fraudulent tax stamps.
Nieves-Felciano’s criminal history includes state felony
convictions for narcotics, firearm, assault and robbery offenses.
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.
Nieves-Feliciano pleaded guilty to one count of possession
with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment
of 20 years, and one count of possession of firearms by a previously convicted
felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for
January 13, 2020.
Nieves-Feliciano has been detained since May 15, 2019, when
he was arrested on a federal criminal complaint.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes
members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department,
Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Connecticut Department of Revenue
Services provided valuable assistance to the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant
U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a
program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities
they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment