Department of Justice

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging RAEKWON OVERSTREET, 23, of Waterbury, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

 

The indictment was returned on April 10, 2019.  Overstreet appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and pleaded not guilty to the charge.  He has been detained since February 19, 2019, when he was arrested on related state charges.

 

The indictment alleges that, on February 19, 2019, Overstreet possessed a Springfield 9mm firearm.  Prior to that date, Overstreet was convicted in state court of conspiracy to commit robbery in the first degree.

 

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.

 

If convicted of the charge, Overstreet faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

 

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a 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, and the Waterbury Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

 

This prosecution has been brought though Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.