Hartford Felon Admits Possessing Loaded Handgun While on Federal Supervised Release

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAKEEM GRANT, 32, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and while he was on supervised release following a prior federal conviction for the same offense.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2017, Grant was convicted in state court of possession of a pistol without a permit.  On April 23, 2018, Hartford Police arrested Grant after he was found in possession of a loaded .40 caliber handgun outside of nightclub that has been a hotspot for shootings and violence on Main Street in Hartford.  He subsequently pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and, on March 28, 2019, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, with credit for time served, and three years of supervised release.  Grant was released from federal prison approximately one month later.

On August 28, 2020, Hartford Police arrested Grant after they found him in possession of a loaded Taurus G2S .40 caliber handgun.  He has been detained since his arrest.

Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for February 16, 2021, at which time Grant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

This case is part of 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.