United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Neighborhoods: NEW HAVEN MAN SENTENCED TO 37 MONTHS FOR ILLEGAL HANDGUN POSSESSION

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTRUM COSTON, age 21, of 54 Starr Street, New Haven, Connecticut, was sentenced today in New Haven by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns to 37 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. COSTON pleaded guilty in October 2003 to a one-count Indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 3, 2003, COSTON, while in the vicinity of 29 Lilac Street in New Haven, possessed a .45 caliber handgun and exchanged gun fire with a passing automobile. COSTON fired the .45 caliber handgun three to four times at the persons in the passing car, and a person in the car fired approximately the same number of shots at COSTON. According to comments made by the Government at sentencing, at least one of the bullets fired entered the house of neighborhood resident while she was at home. In sentencing COSTON at the top of the sentencing guidelines range, Judge Burns stated that shootings in New Haven are all too common and troubling to everyone in the community.

"This Office and its law enforcement partners will continue to diligently prosecute convicted felons who possess firearms and threaten the safety of others in the New Haven community," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Through the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, the federal government will continue to seek stiff prison sentences for those who endanger the lives of others with gun violence."

This matter was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric J. Glover.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, and improving the safety of residents in New Haven and all of Connecticut's cities. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. More information on the nationwide Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative can be found at www.psn.gov.

CONTACT:

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