Hartford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession, Cash Structuring
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 17, 2009 |
Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Lou Rock,” 31, of Hartford, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. On July 11, 2008, RODRIGUEZ pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of structuring a cash transaction to evade reporting requirements.
According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in Court, on December 15, 2007, RODRIGUEZ was found to be in possession of a .40 caliber handgun. On October 23, 1996, RODRIGUEZ was convicted of possession with intent to sell narcotics, a felony. 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 structuring charge stems from RODRIGUEZ’ purchase of an automobile from M3 Auto Sales LLC of 125-127 New Park Avenue in Hartford. Federal law requires that all trades and businesses, which includes car dealerships, file a Form 8300 with the IRS upon receipt of more than $10,000 in cash in a single transaction or related transactions during a 12-month period.
On April 11, 2007, RODRIGUEZ purchased a 2006 Infiniti M35 from M3 Auto Sales. The total price of the vehicle was $34,600, which RODRIGUEZ purchased for approximately $23,100 in cash. The remaining balance was a trade-in allowance of $11,500 for a 2004 Nissan Maxima that was previously purchased at M3 Auto Sales. RODRIGUEZ had knowledge that M3 Auto Sales had agreed not to file the required Form 8300 for other customers in the past. Based on this knowledge, RODRIGUEZ informed the dealer that he would be paying for the vehicle in cash, and further requested a discount for paying in this manner. In response, the dealer from M3 Auto Sales told RODRIGUEZ not to worry, that M3 Auto Sales would “work around it.”
RODRIGUEZ understood the dealer to mean that if he paid more than $10,000 in cash that M3 Auto Sales would not file a Form 8300.
At the time, RODRIGUEZ was aware of the Form 8300 requirement as a result of two instances when he purchased more than $10,000 of jewelry in September 2005 and February 2007.
This matter was investigated by the Hartford Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Freimann.
The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gang and gun 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.