David X. Sullivan, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Eduardo Cruz, a 19-year-old from Waterbury, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea delivered the sentence in Hartford, which includes an additional three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The sentencing is related to Cruz's involvement in stealing firearms from a licensed gun dealer in Salem and trafficking some of those stolen weapons.
Court documents reveal that on March 15, 2024, Cruz and accomplices drove into the Statewide Pawn Shop's entryway doors in Salem and stole 21 firearms. Later that day, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of three stolen firearms from Cruz and a juvenile in Waterbury. On March 18, 2024, investigators purchased another stolen firearm from Cruz during a meeting where he was accompanied by two juveniles. At this point, Cruz was arrested and authorities recovered two more stolen firearms—one carried by a juvenile and another found in Cruz’s vehicle.
Further investigation led to the discovery of two additional stolen firearms at an associate's residence on March 18, 2024. However, thirteen of the stolen firearms remain unaccounted for.
Cruz has been detained since his arrest and pleaded guilty on March 7, 2025, to charges including theft of firearms from a licensee and firearms trafficking.
The case is being investigated by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Connecticut State Police, as well as police departments from Waterbury, Stamford, and Wolcott.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan expressed gratitude towards the State’s Attorneys for the Judicial Districts of Waterbury and New London for their cooperation in this investigation and prosecution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mahard is prosecuting this case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. More information about PSN can be found at www.justice.gov/psn.
