John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on June 27, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging JOHNATHEN LOPEZ, 28, of Waterbury, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. LOPEZ was arrested on July 2, 2018.
As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, on April 27, 2017, members of the Waterbury Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit arrested LOPEZ after he was found in possession of a Glock 27.40 caliber handgun. The firearm, which had been reported stolen during a burglary in Waterbury, is connected to shootings currently under investigation in Waterbury.
The indictment alleges that, prior to April 2017, LOPEZ had been convicted in state court of felony drug and weapon offenses. 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 of this charge, LOPEZ 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 Waterbury Police Department’s Gang Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Caruso and Natasha Freismuth.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
