Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT GENTILE, 78, of Manchester, was arrested today and charged by federal criminal complaint with firearm offenses.

GENTILE appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford and is detained pending a hearing that is scheduled for April 20 at 10:00 a.m.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, on March 2, 2015, GENTILE sold a .38 Colt Cobra revolver, which was loaded with five rounds of Smith & Wesson .38 Special ammunition, to an individual he knew to be a convicted felon.

The complaint further alleges that GENTILE has been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses.

The complaint charges GENTILE with possession of ammunition by a previously convicted felon, and sale of a firearm to a known convicted felon. Both charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

According to statements made in court, GENTILE is on supervised release from a prior federal conviction. If he is found to have violated the terms and conditions of his supervised release, he faces additional penalties.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and 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 matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John H. Durham.