New Haven Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Firearm, Counterfeiting Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that VICTOR SALAMAN, also known as “Pito,” 30, formerly of Greenwich Avenue in New Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm and producing counterfeit U.S. currency.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 28, 2009, an individual working with law enforcement met SALAMAN at SALAMAN’s Greenwich Avenue residence. At that meeting, SALAMAN provided the individual with $1,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency in exchange for $300 in genuine U.S. currency. SALAMAN also advised the individual that he would like to purchase a firearm and silencer. In light of that request, law enforcement arranged for an undercover police officer to provide SALAMAN with a firearm and silencer in exchange for $5,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency.

On January 12, 2010, the undercover officer met with SALAMAN in the vicinity of Greenwich Avenue and Third Street in New Haven. At that meeting, SALAMAN provided the undercover officer with the counterfeit U.S. currency in exchange for a 9 millimeter handgun and a silencer. SALAMAN was arrested after taking possession of the firearm and silencer. On that same date, law enforcement executed a search warrant at SALAMAN’s Greenwich Avenue residence. The search resulted in the seizure of a .22 caliber handgun, assorted .22 caliber ammunition, additional counterfeit U.S. currency, and counterfeiting equipment, including a laptop computer, a scanner, a shredder, and other materials.

SALAMAN has previously been convicted of multiple felony 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.

On November 23, 2010, SALAMAN pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and one count of producing counterfeit U.S. currency.

SALAMAN has been detained since his arrest on January 12, 2010.

This case was investigated by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Secret Service, the New Haven Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Mattei.

The Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force includes members from the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; the Connecticut State Police; and the Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, New Haven, and Shelton Police Departments.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun and gang 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.