John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Quadell Daniels, 32, of New London, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking guns from Georgia to Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 20, 2017, members of the Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Task Force East and New London Police Department conducted a court-authorized search of a New London residence and seized a Beretta, Model BU9 Nano, 9mm pistol, and a Jimenez Arms, Model J.A. Nine, 9mm pistol. Subsequent investigation revealed that, in April 2017, Daniels and his former girlfriend entered a pawn shop in Hinesville, Georgia. Daniels, who had provided cash to his girlfriend before entering the shop, selected two firearms for his girlfriend to purchase on his behalf. After his girlfriend completed the purchase, she provided the firearms to Daniels. Daniels transported the firearms to Connecticut and sold them for profit.
In July 2017, Daniels and his former girlfriend similarly purchased another five firearms at the same pawn shop and transported the guns to Connecticut, where Daniels sold them for profit.
Two of the seven firearms purchased by Daniels were seized during the search of the New London residence on July 20, 2017. On February 28, 2019, New London Police recovered a Taurus, Model PT 111, 9mm handgun, which was one of the firearms Daniels had purchased in Georgia in April 2017. The investigation into the recovered Taurus handgun, and the whereabouts of the four other firearms Daniels purchased, is ongoing.
In 2012, Daniels was convicted in Connecticut state court of attempted assault in the second degree, and possession of a firearm without a permit. 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.
Daniels was arrested on December 1, 2017. On March 11, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force East and New London Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alina P. Reynolds.
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.