New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERICK E. GOMEZ, JR., 28, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 3, 2020, Gomez fled from his car after he was involved in a car accident in Woodbridge.  A search of the car revealed a loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol, 15 baggies of crack cocaine and 12 folds of heroin and fentanyl.  Gomez was subsequently charged with state offenses stemming from this incident and was released on bond.  On July 31, 2020, Gomez was arrested on related federal charges.  At the time of his arrest he possessed quantities of crack cocaine, heroin/fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for September 2, 2021, at which time Gomez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least five years.

Gomez has been detained since his federal arrest.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Police Department and Woodbridge Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan, Peter D. Markle and Tara E. Levens.