Vanessa Roberts Avery, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, along with James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has indicted Jose Antonio Molina-Montalvo. The 36-year-old Waterbury resident faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The indictment was issued on November 25, 2024. Molina-Montalvo appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the indictment, Molina-Montalvo allegedly possessed a Harrington & Richardson 1871 INC. Handi Rifle between October 11 and October 15, 2024. His criminal history reportedly includes state felony convictions for assault, possession with intent to sell narcotics, strangulation, harassment, burglary, and larceny. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of a felony from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
If convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, Molina-Montalvo could face up to 15 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Avery emphasized that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and that charges are merely allegations until proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Molina-Montalvo has been detained since his arrest on unrelated state charges on October 21, 2024.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce gun violence and other violent crimes through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. In May 2021, the Justice Department enhanced PSN's strategy to focus on community trust and legitimacy, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/psn.