Fairfield Man Charged With Illegal Ammunition Possession

[Editor's Note: The following is a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.]

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment today charging Arthur Preston, 21, of Fairfield, with one count of possession of stolen ammunition and one count of possession of ammunition by a previously convicted felon.        

The indictment alleges that, on October 31, 2011, Preston possessed 32 rounds of hollow point ammunition that had been stolen. The indictment also alleges that, prior to that date, Preston had been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including robbery, assault and burglary.        

According to court documents and statements made in court, it is alleged that the ammunition was stolen from a Fairfield residence on October 24, 2011. 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.        

If convicted, Preston faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the charges.        

Preston has been detained since his arrest on November 7, 2011.        

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.        

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fairfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Deirdre M. Daly and Michael J. Gustafson.