Christopher Purvis, 29, has pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Court documents and statements indicate that on May 7, 2022, New Britain Police attempted to stop a car with Purvis as an occupant. When officers approached, Purvis accelerated the vehicle at high speed before crashing. He and others then fled the scene. A search of the car uncovered fentanyl, cocaine, and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun reported stolen. Analysis later confirmed Purvis’ DNA on both the firearm and drug packaging.
Purvis is scheduled for sentencing on October 31. He faces a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and could receive up to life imprisonment.
He is currently serving a 72-month federal sentence for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in northern Vermont during 2022.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force along with the New Britain Police Department. The task force includes members from multiple law enforcement agencies across Connecticut including DEA Hartford Resident Office, Connecticut State Police, and police departments from Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Christopher Lembo are prosecuting the case.
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