United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BRIDGEPORT JURY CONVICTS ARNOLD BELL
"Armed Career Criminal" faces sentence of 15 years to life

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced today that ARNOLD BELL, age 37, of New Haven, Connecticut, has been convicted by a Bridgeport federal jury of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. The jury returned its verdict after approximately four hours of deliberation. The trial of BELL began on February 17, 2004.

On August 14, 2003, a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven indicted BELL on a charge that he possessed a firearm on June 13, 2002, the date Officer Robert Fumiatti of the New Haven Police Department was shot in the Hill Section of New Haven.

Because of BELL's previous criminal record, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas on May 14, 2004.

"We are obviously very pleased with today's verdict, which would not have been possible without the excellent cooperation between federal and local law enforcement that produced an overwhelming amount of evidence in this case," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "As a result, another career criminal will be off the streets for many years."

On December 17, 2003, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment that added two counts to the original indictment. The additional counts alleged that BELL used, carried or possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. These counts are still pending. If convicted on one of these counts, he faces a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of five years followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. If he is convicted on the second count, he faces an additional consecutive term of incarceration of 25 years followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentences on these counts must be imposed consecutively to each other and to any sentence imposed on the underlying drug count, in the event of conviction. The drug count – possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine – carries up to a 20-year sentence and a fine of up to $1,000,000. U.S. Attorney O'Connor emphasizes that an indictment is not evidence and that the Government has the burden of proving the defendant's guilt of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and by officers of the New Haven Police Department and the Hamden Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan and Deputy United States Attorney John H. Durham.

CONTACT:

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