Conn. man sentenced to more than 7 years in prison for stolen guns, false statements

SPRINGFIELD — A Connecticut man was sentenced Friday in federal court in connection with stealing 17 firearms from a West Springfield gun shop and making false statements to federal agents, according to a statement from acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell.

Christian Castro, 31, of New Britain, Connecticut, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to more than seven years in prison and three years of supervised release, according to the statement,

On May 14, Mendell said Castro pleaded guilty to one count each of theft of a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee; being a felon in possession of a firearm; interstate transportation of a stolen firearm; receipt, possession, concealment, storage, barter, sale, or disposition of a stolen firearm in interstate commerce; and making false statements to a federal official.

Shortly after midnight on Aug. 29, 2020, Castro and co-defendant Fernando Rivera engaged in a crime spree in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts that included seven ATM thefts or attempted thefts and culminated in the theft of 17 firearms from a federal firearms licensee in West Springfield, according to the statement.

Mendell said at the time of his offenses, Castro was on state probation and had two prior convictions in Connecticut for larceny and possessing narcotics with intent to distribute.

On Sept. 18, 2020, federal agents arrested Castro and Rivera at their homes in Connecticut, according to the statement.

During his interview with investigators, Castro admitted that he drove to and from several ATM robberies and the gun store robbery, but falsely stated he never received, kept, or even touched any of the stolen guns, according to the statement.

However, Mendell said, during a search of Rivera’s phone, investigators learned that Castro had received at least one of the stolen firearms and that he and Rivera traveled to New York City to sell at least three others to another felon whom Castro had met in a Connecticut prison.

On May 5, Rivera pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5, according to the statement.

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