Three individuals from Connecticut have been charged in a federal indictment for their alleged involvement in a firearms trafficking conspiracy. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division.
The defendants—Julian Foster, 35, of Hartford; Lateecha Gordon, 37, of Hartford; and Terrell Barnes, 43, of New Haven—face charges related to illegal trafficking and possession of firearms. Foster was arrested on September 30 and is currently detained. Gordon and Barnes were arrested the following day, entered not guilty pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, and were released on $100,000 bonds.
According to court documents and statements presented in court, an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) found that Foster acquired firearms from Texas for resale in Connecticut. Authorities allege that Gordon and Barnes assisted Foster in these activities. On September 3, an undercover ATF agent reportedly purchased three firearms—a 9mm pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a 5.56 caliber rifle—from Foster for $6,000 during a meeting in New Haven. At this meeting, Foster indicated plans to obtain additional firearms for sale.
On September 11, Foster and Gordon were arrested by Huntsville Police in Texas after officers stopped their vehicle and discovered three concealed firearms in the engine bay. Gordon was also found with drug paraphernalia at that time. The next day, police searched a storage facility rented by Gordon in Houston and recovered five more firearms along with ammunition and gun parts.
Authorities further allege that on September 19 Foster contacted the undercover agent again to offer more firearms for sale. He allegedly sent photos of two guns as well as a video showing an auto sear conversion device capable of making a firearm fully automatic.
When Foster was federally arrested on September 30 in New Haven, investigators say they seized an AM-15 rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun from his vehicle.
The indictment charges all three defendants with conspiracy to traffic firearms—a charge carrying up to fifteen years imprisonment if convicted. Additionally, both Foster and Barnes face charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by felons—also punishable by up to fifteen years imprisonment.
Court records indicate that Foster has prior convictions in Connecticut state court for first-degree robbery involving the display or threatened use of a firearm; failure to appear; and sale of controlled substances. Barnes has previous convictions for sale of narcotics and conspiracy to commit larceny. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms or ammunition that has crossed state or national borders.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stated: "An indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
The investigation involved assistance from the Huntsville Police Department (Texas) as well as the Arkansas State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution forms part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration-related crime as well as organized criminal groups through coordinated efforts under programs like OCDETF (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces) and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
