Federal Indictment Charges Willimantic Man with Stealing More Than 30 Guns from Newington Gun Store
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging KWITZPATRICK DUFFANY, 36, formerly of Willimantic, with firearm and drug offenses stemming from an investigation into the theft of more than 30 firearms from a Newington gun store last year.
As alleged in the indictment, on May 27, 2023, Duffany stole more than 30 firearms from Hoffman’s “Guns for the Good Guys,” a federal firearms licensee located in Newington. On that date, Duffany also possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and used a firearm in relation to that offense.
It is alleged that Duffany’s criminal history includes two state convictions for burglary in the third degree. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Duffany with theft of firearms from a licensee, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; unlawful possession of firearms by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years.
Duffany has been detained since his arrest on unrelated state charges on May 31, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Newington Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Willimantic Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New Britain for its cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
