A federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a three-count indictment against Felix Narvaez, a 53-year-old resident of Waterbury, Connecticut. The charges include cocaine distribution and firearm possession offenses, according to an announcement by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Marc H. Silverman, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division, and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo.
The indictment was issued on February 12, 2025. Narvaez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on November 7, 2024.
According to the indictment, Narvaez allegedly possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute it and was found with a loaded silver Ruger P90 .45 A.C.P handgun on November 7, 2024. Additionally, Narvaez's criminal history reportedly includes state felony convictions for firearm-related offenses, assault, and controlled substances violations. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved through interstate or foreign commerce.
Narvaez faces several charges: possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which could result in a maximum prison term of 20 years; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a potential maximum prison term of 15 years; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, which mandates at least five years imprisonment consecutively.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman emphasized that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. "A charge is only an allegation," he stated. "A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
The investigation into this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Waterbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through collaboration among various stakeholders.
For further information about Project Safe Neighborhoods and its initiatives for addressing violent crime issues within communities through enforcement efforts focused on high-risk offenders combined with local prevention programs, visit www.justice.gov/psn.