News Release [print-friendly version]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2006

Glastonbury Man Who Illegally Possessed Firearm is Sentenced

SEPT 7-- June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DANILO RICO, 52, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, was sentenced yesterday, September 6, by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to three years of probation for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.  Judge Dorsey also ordered RICO to pay a fine in the amount of $1500.  RICO pleaded guilty to the offense on June 1, 2006.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on August 31, 2005, during the execution of a search warrant at RICO’s residence, law enforcement personnel found a Sturm Ruger .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun in RICO’s bedroom closet.  RICO had been previously convicted in 1995 and 2003 of narcotics-related felonies.

 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.

 In sentencing RICO to a term of probation, Judge Dorsey departed from the advisory sentencing guideline range of 24 to 30 months of imprisonment, based on RICO’s extraordinary family circumstances.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Glastonbury Police Department.