Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging NICHOLAS DeFELICE, 31, of Montville, with engaging in the business of dealing in and manufacturing firearms, and possession of unregistered National Firearms Act firearms.
As alleged in the indictment, between approximately January 2020 and February 2022, DeFelice manufactured and sold firearms without a license to do so. On Feb. 17, 2022, DeFelice possessed two rifles with barrels of less than 16 inches, and one silencer, which were not registered pursuant to the National Firearms Act.
The charge of engaging in the business of dealing in and manufacturing firearms carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and the charge of possession of unregistered National Firearms Act firearms carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of more than 50 additional firearms seized from DeFelice on Feb. 17, 2022.
DeFelice appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a pleas of not guilty to the charges. He was released on a $100,000 bond.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.