Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESUS SANTIAGO, also known as “Choco,” 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 75 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 21, 2016, Hartford Police received information that a vehicle traveling in the area of Wadsworth Street and Seymour Street in Hartford was occupied by “Choco,” who was in possession of a loaded firearm. Officers located the vehicle, which attempted to speed away and enter I-91 from the Whitehead Highway. The vehicle lost control, struck a concrete barrier and rolled to a stop. Officers observed SANTIAGO drop a firearm from the driver side window as the car was rolling. SANTIAGO was apprehended, and a search of the roadway revealed a.380 caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with 6 rounds of ammunition.

Prior to June 2016, SANTIAGO had been convicted of seven felony offenses, including multiple drug offenses, violating a protective order and second degree robbery.

SANTIAGO has been detained since his arrest. On February 13, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

This matter was investigated by the Hartford Police Department and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.