U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut issued the following announcement on Jan. 10.
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging CARLOS BARNES, also known as “Buddha,” 28, of New Haven, with possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.
The indictment was returned on January 2, 2020. Barnes appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty to the offense. Barnes has been detained since his arrest by Hamden Police on related state charges on October 12, 2019.
The indictment alleges that, on October 12, 2019, Barnes possessed a Taurus Millennium G2 9mm handgun and a Springfield XD-40 .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number. Prior to that date, Barnes was convicted in state court of carrying a pistol without a permit, sale of illegal drugs, and robbery in the first degree.
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, Barnes faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hamden Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan.
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.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up