
A convicted felon has been indicted for allegedly having a gun equipped with a high-capacity magazine despite being barred from possessing weapons and ammunition.
Kevin Barco, 41, of Hartford faces one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
The charge came after a grand jury returned an indictment against Barco on Sept. 3, federal officials said in a news release Tuesday.
Barco appeared Tuesday in federal court in New Haven where he pleaded not guilty, according to federal authorities. He has been in custody since he was arrested by the Hartford Police Department on related state charges on April 24.
The indictment alleges that Barco was found with a Springfield Armory XD .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number and a high-capacity magazine, which was loaded with 17 rounds, officials said. According to authorities, his criminal history includes state felony convictions on weapon, robbery and larceny charges, leaving him ineligible to possess a gun.
The charge Barco faces carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. He could face additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
On Sept. 27, 2021, Barco was sentenced in federal court in Bridgeport to 39 months in prison and three years of supervised release, officials said. That sentence came after he was allegedly found in illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun, according to authorities.
Barco was released from prison in April 2024.