Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Christopher Dancy, 35, of Hartford, has pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford.
Court documents and statements revealed that Dancy was arrested on August 18, 2022, for a state parole violation. A search of his residence uncovered a loaded Glock model 45, 9mm pistol, approximately 20 grams of fentanyl mixed with xylazine, and narcotics packaging materials.
On May 3, 2023, Hartford Police observed Dancy involved in suspected drug activities near Albany Avenue and Edgewood Street. Two days later, a search of a car he had occupied yielded a loaded Glock model 26, 9mm pistol. DNA testing linked the firearm to Dancy.
Dancy's criminal record includes prior state convictions for drugs and firearms offenses. Federal law prohibits individuals convicted of felonies from possessing firearms or ammunition that have traveled through interstate or foreign commerce.
Dancy pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. These charges carry maximum prison terms of 20 years and 15 years respectively. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Dancy has been detained since June 5, 2023.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; and the Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration among various stakeholders to address community crime issues effectively.