Three individuals from Connecticut have been charged in a federal firearms trafficking case following an indictment returned by a grand jury in New Haven. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division.
The defendants are Julian Foster, 35, and Lateecha Gordon, 37, both of Hartford, and Terrell Barnes, 43, of New Haven. Foster was arrested on September 30, 2025, and is currently detained. Gordon and Barnes were arrested the following day and released on $100,000 bonds after pleading not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) found that Foster acquired firearms from Texas and transported them to Connecticut for sale. Authorities allege that Gordon and Barnes assisted Foster in these activities.
On September 3, 2025, an undercover ATF agent purchased three firearms—a 9mm pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a 5.56 caliber rifle—from Foster for $6,000 in New Haven. During this meeting, Foster reportedly indicated plans to acquire more firearms for future sales to the agent.
On September 11, Foster and Gordon were arrested in Huntsville, Texas after police stopped their vehicle and discovered three firearms hidden in the engine bay; Gordon was also found with drug paraphernalia. A subsequent search of a storage facility rented by Gordon in Houston led to the discovery of five additional firearms along with ammunition and gun parts.
Further allegations state that on September 19 Foster contacted the undercover agent again offering more firearms for sale—providing photos of two guns as well as a video showing an auto sear conversion device capable of enabling fully automatic fire when attached to a firearm.
After his federal arrest on September 30 in New Haven, investigators reportedly seized an AM-15 rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun from Foster’s vehicle.
The indictment charges all three defendants with conspiracy to traffic firearms—a crime carrying up to fifteen years’ imprisonment if convicted. Additionally, Foster and Barnes face charges for unlawful possession of a firearm by felons; this offense also carries up to fifteen years’ imprisonment.
Authorities allege that Foster has prior convictions including first-degree robbery involving a firearm threat or display as well as drug-related offenses; Barnes is alleged to have previous convictions related to narcotics sales and larceny conspiracy. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms or ammunition that has traveled across state lines or internationally.
“An indictment is not evidence of guilt,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “A charge is only an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The investigation involves cooperation between ATF agents as well as officers from the Huntsville Police Department in Texas and Arkansas State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative combining resources from various Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)—which aims to combat illegal immigration networks along with violent criminal organizations nationwide.
