Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PAUL GOTTA, 58, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of knowingly and willfully distributing an explosive material to an individual who was under 21 years of age.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2012, GOTTA aided an individual who was 17 years old in the purchase of thousands of rounds of handgun ammunition. In addition, on two occasions in December 2012, GOTTA purchased two pounds of explosives powder at Riverview Gun Sales in East Windsor and distributed it to the same juvenile.
At time of the offense, GOTTA was a Catholic priest residing at the rectory of St. Philip Church in East Windsor.
On Jan. 30, 2014, a grand jury in Hartford returned a six-count indictment charging GOTTA with aiding and abetting the unlawful transport of a firearm in interstate commerce, aiding and abetting the possession of a handgun by a juvenile, aiding and abetting the possession of ammunition by a juvenile, distribution of explosive material to an individual under the age of 21, aiding and abetting the attempted manufacture of a pipe bomb, and obstruction of justice.
GOTTA pleaded guilty to Count Four of the indictment.
GOTTA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on May 19, 2016, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
GOTTA was arrested on July 19, 2013, and is released on bond.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East Windsor Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Spector.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
