Kenneth Sturdivant, a 39-year-old resident of New Haven, has entered a guilty plea for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. The plea was made before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.
Court documents reveal that Sturdivant had previously been sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release for participating in a gang-related narcotics distribution ring. He was released from prison in December 2020.
On November 16, 2023, while still under federal supervision, Sturdivant discarded a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun and packaged fentanyl laced with xylazine near Congress Avenue after evading police during a traffic stop. Federal law prohibits individuals convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved through interstate or foreign commerce.
Sturdivant could face up to 15 years in prison at sentencing, which is yet to be scheduled. He may also incur additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release. Currently, he remains free on a $150,000 bond pending sentencing.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside the New Haven Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and other violent crimes by uniting various levels of law enforcement with community efforts to enhance neighborhood safety. The Justice Department reinforced PSN's strategy in May 2021 with principles focused on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/psn.