David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced on Mar. 9 that Dashawn Dwyer, 31, of Hartford, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to address gun violence and illegal firearm possession by individuals with prior felony convictions. Authorities say such cases are part of broader initiatives aimed at protecting communities from violent crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hartford Police officers attempted to stop Dwyer on November 11, 2024, after he had absconded from state parole and was being sought by law enforcement. Officers reported that Dwyer accelerated his vehicle on Albany Avenue, drove recklessly through side streets, then abandoned the moving car and fled on foot. The vehicle eventually stopped against a fence on Main Street. Police apprehended Dwyer nearby and found a 9mm Glock pistol with a loaded extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device known as a "switch" inside the vehicle. They also discovered distribution quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine along with $10,257 in cash.
Dwyer's criminal history includes state felony convictions for robbery, assault, and narcotics offenses. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for June 3; Dwyer faces up to 15 years in prison and has been detained since his arrest. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reed Durham and Sean P. Mahard are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as a nationwide initiative utilizing Department of Justice resources to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from violent crime.
