John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that TYMON PETERSON, 29, of Stratford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to two months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in an illegal firearm purchase at a Newington gun store. Judge Hall also ordered Peterson to serve the first four months of his supervised release in home confinement, and to pay an $1,800 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August and September 2017, Jamal Weir and Tymon Peterson texted one another about purchasing firearms. Peterson possessed a valid pistol permit and was able to purchase firearms legally, but Weir, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms. On Sept. 22, 2017, Weir and Peterson travelled together to Hoffman’s Gun Center in Newington. At the store, Weir provided Peterson with cash to purchase at least one firearm on his behalf. On that date, Peterson filled out an ATF Form 4473 in which he falsely represented that he was the actual purchaser of a SCCY Model CPX-2, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and that he was not acquiring the firearm for another person. Peterson gave the pistol to Weir after they exited the store.
Weir’s criminal history includes state convictions for illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, and carrying a pistol without a permit.
Peterson was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on Jan. 1, 2018. On Dec. 14, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
On December 6, 2018, Weir pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On May 29, 2019, Judge Hall sentenced him to 21 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police, the Newington Police Department and Hoffman’s Gun Center. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Margaret E. Maigret.
This prosecution 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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
