Two New Haven Men Charged With Illegal Gun Possession

The following is a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office:

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced Thursday that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging Carl S. Harvey Jr., 27, and Kevin Mills, 23, both of New Haven, each with one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

The indictment alleges that, on March 27, 2011, Harvey and Mills, each having sustained multiple prior felony convictions, together with others possessed a loaded, 12-gauge shotgun. The defendants were arrested on that date following a motor vehicle chase, which ended when their vehicle crashed in the area of the Stevenson Dam on Route 34 in Monroe.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

The indictment was returned on July 26, and the case has been assigned to United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford. The defendants will be arraigned on the charges tomorrow in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport.

Harvey and Mills have been detained since March 27, 2011. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on the firearm possession counts.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of the Monroe Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, and improving the safety of residents of Connecticut’s cities. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.