PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Lazar Hazard, 31, of Providence, was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi also ordered Hazard to serve three years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Hazard pleaded guilty in May 2014, as charged in a one-count indictment, to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to information presented to the court, in January 2014, members of the Providence Police Department Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau received information about an individual dealing drugs in the north end of the city. On Jan. 27, while conducting surveillance of the area, detectives watched as Hazard drove up and met up with a person driving a separate vehicle and allegedly provided the person with a small quantity of drugs in exchange for cash. Detectives continued to follow Hazard and watched as he picked-up another person already known to the police. Detectives stopped Hazard’s vehicle and placed him in custody.
According to information presented to the court, detectives obtained a court authorized search warrant for Hazard’s residence. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of.10 mm Glock Pistol with three magazines of ammunition, as well as various items used in the packaging and distribution of drugs, and $510 in cash. Hazard admitted to detectives that the firearm was his and that he obtained it for protection.
Hazard had previously been convicted in Rhode Island state court of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Providence Police in this matter.
This case was brought as part of the Rhode Island Urban Violent Crime Initiative. The Rhode Island Urban Violent Crime Initiative is a local, state and federal law enforcement collaboration to proactively identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for crimes of violence in urban neighborhoods.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
