United States of America v. Kevin J. Barko

New Haven criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possess and distribute contraband inside the facility was sentenced today to federal prison.



A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging KEVIN BARCO, 41, of Hartford, with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.



On April 24, 2025, Barco possessed a Springfield Armory XD .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number and a high-capacity magazine loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition.



The indictment further alleges that Barco's criminal history includes state felony convictions for weapon, robbery, and larceny offenses. 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.



On September 27, 2021, Barco was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to 39 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a sawed-off shotgun. He was released from federal prison in April 2024.



U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.



This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Harford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.



This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

If convicted of the charge, Barco faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.



He also faces additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.