United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

EAST HARTFORD "ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL" SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 21 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TROY HAYES, 28, who last resided at 3 Colombus Circle, East Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. HAYES was convicted by a jury on August 29, 2003, of being a felon who was unlawfully in possession of ammunition. Because HAYES has at least three prior convictions for either a serious drug offense or a violent felony, he was sentenced as an "Armed Career Criminal," which carries enhanced penalties.

HAYES's conviction stems from his arrest on May 13, 2001, by officers of the East Hartford Police Department. As revealed at trial, two officers from the East Hartford Police Department were on foot patrol in the area of the Venus Lounge when one of the officers observed a gun in one of the vehicles parked behind the bar. The officers set up a surveillance and waited for the car's owner to return. When HAYES walked towards the vehicle and motioned as if he was about to open the driver's door of his vehicle, one of the police officers commanded HAYES to show his hands. At that point, HAYES started to run away from the police officers.

As he ran, HAYES was observed throwing a plastic bag from his waist area. The bag was recovered and found to contain crack cocaine. After a short struggle, HAYES was restrained with the assistance of a police canine and hand-cuffed. During a search of HAYES, officers found a second bag of crack cocaine in his pocket, $716 in U.S. currency and a bag containing several rounds of ammunition. A search of HAYES's vehicle revealed a Colt 9mm firearm on the floor in front of the driver's seat. The Colt firearm, which had earlier been stolen from the Colt factory, was found loaded with a bullet in the chamber ready to fire. The bullets in the gun matched the bullets that were found in HAYES's pocket. The total weight of the two bags of crack cocaine was 7.6 grams.

"This severe sentence shows that the federal government is serious about removing violent, repeat offenders from the community," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "This Office will continue to target convicted felons who choose to carry firearms in violation of federal law – before they get a chance to use their weapons."

U.S. Attorney complimented the efforts of both the East Hartford Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration who investigated the case.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark D. Rubino.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov