West Haven Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses

New Haven – John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DENZIL STEWART, 25, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to approximately 37 months of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for firearm and drug possession offenses.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2017, ATF special agents and task force officers made three controlled purchases of narcotics from Stewart.  Two of the purchases involved heroin and the third involved both heroin and crack cocaine.

On March 2, 2017, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of a West Haven apartment where Stewart was staying and found a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol, approximately 90 grams of cocaine, more than 160 grams of marijuana, approximately166 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms, a quantity of oxycodone, items used to package narcotics for street sale, and $6,386 in cash.  Stewart was arrested on state charges at that time.

Stewart, who was released on bond in his state case, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on March 23, 2017.  A search of Stewart’s residence on that date revealed a quantity of marijuana.

In December 2010, Stewart was convicted in Florida of burglary and attempted burglary offenses.  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.

Stewart has been detained since his federal arrest.  On October 9, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the West Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Vizcarrondo and Brian Leaming.

This prosecution has been brought through 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.