United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

DERBY MAN THREATENS TO BURN APARTMENT BUILDING AND KILL FEDERAL AGENT

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging RAYMOND DELVECCHIO, JR., age 55, of various federal charges. The 29-count indictment charges that DELVECCHIO, of 28 Bank Street, Derby, Connecticut, threatened the use of force to interfere with a property owner's efforts to rent apartments to African Americans, attempted to destroy the apartment building with fire, threatened to murder a federal law enforcement officer, mailed threatening communications, retaliated against an informant, tampered with a witness, and unlawfully possessed firearms and ammunition.

According to the superseding indictment, DELVECCHIO attempted to hire someone to burn an apartment building in Derby because the owner considered renting to African-Americans. On August 1, 2003, DELVECCHIO allegedly met with an undercover special agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and gave the undercover agent a firearm in exchange for burning the apartment building.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that DELVECCHIO was later arrested on August 7, 2003, on a federal warrant charging him with possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon. At the same time, ATF agents working together with members of the Derby Police Department, executed a federal search warrant at DELVECCHIO's residence in Derby and seized approximately 20 firearms. On August 8, 2003, DELVECCHIO was presented in the federal courthouse in Bridgeport and United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons ordered him detained pending trial. He has been detained at a correction facility since August 7, 2003. DELVECCHIO was later indicted in August 2003 for illegally possessing fifteen of the firearms seized in the search.

While in pretrial custody, DELVECCHIO solicited several inmates to murder the ATF special agent with whom he had met and a confidential informant who had provided information to law enforcement. He also attempted to mail three letters that contained various threats concerning the ATF special agent and people who provided information to law enforcement, including the confidential informant, the apartment owner, and two neighbors. This conduct gave rise to the charges in the superseding indictment relating to DELVECCHIO threatening to murder a federal law enforcement officer, mailing threatening communications, retaliating against an informant, and tampering with a witness in the pending investigation and criminal case. The superseding indictment also includes additional unlawful firearm possession charges, bringing to 20 firearms and ammunition that DELVECCHIO unlawfully possessed in August 2003.

DELVECCHIO faces the following maximum penalties for the various federal offenses:

(1) civil rights offense – 10 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release; (2) arson offense – mandatory five years' imprisonment and not more than 20 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release; (3) threat to murder federal agent offense – 10 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release; (4) retaliating against an informant offense – 20 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release; (5) tampering with a witness offense – 10 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release; (6) for each of the two mailing threatening communications offenses – 5 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release; and (7) for each of the 11 unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition offenses – 10 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release.

"These serious charges confirm federal and local enforcement's commitment to prosecute those who attempt to forcefully interfere with the rights of Americans to rent and own property regardless of their race," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "In addition, this Office will vigorously prosecute those who interfere with the criminal justice system by attempting to murder, intimidate, retaliate, and threaten a law enforcement officer, witnesses, and those who provide law enforcement with information."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor also noted that federal firearms laws prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms and ammunition will be diligently enforced to ensure the public's safety.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. It is the Government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The case has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms with the assistance of the Derby Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Keith A. King is prosecuting the case.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
Tel: (203) 821-3722
Cell: (203) 996-1393