Miguel Rivera, 33, of Shelton, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a shotgun and ammunition as a convicted felon. The sentence will be served consecutively to the 60-month prison term Rivera is already serving. U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams delivered the sentence in Hartford.
According to court records and statements made during the proceedings, Waterbury Police responded to reports of gunfire on July 5, 2020, near William Street and Laurel Street in Waterbury. Upon arrival, officers encountered Rivera wearing body armor. He attempted to escape by climbing a fence but was apprehended. Police recovered a Romarm/Cugir AK-type semiautomatic rifle with a fully loaded 30-round magazine from the area where Rivera had fled. Additionally, he had one round of ammunition in his pocket.
While out on bond and awaiting trial on June 21, 2022, Rivera was found in possession of a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, and two Kevlar bulletproof vests.
Rivera has prior convictions for felony firearm offenses as well as robbery and burglary charges. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of felonies from possessing firearms or ammunition that have traveled through interstate or foreign commerce.
On October 19, 2023, a jury convicted Rivera of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition related to the July 2020 incident. He was sentenced on November 22, 2024, in New Haven federal court to five years’ imprisonment for that offense.
Rivera pleaded guilty on December 1, 2025, to another count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon stemming from his conduct in June 2022.
He has been detained since July 13, 2022.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Waterbury Police Department, and Connecticut State Police.
“These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Patricia Stolfi Collins,” said David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.