MONTVILLE MAN TO SERVE 13 MONTHS FOR FIREARMS OFFENSE

A Montville man who sold a 9 mm rifle to an informant working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in December 2014 was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to 13 months in prison.

Jason Scott, 37, had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office and court documents, the FBI arranged for a controlled purchase of a Hi-Point Firearms, Model 995, 9 mm rifle after an individual informed them that Scott was looking to sell firearms for cash.

Scott was arrested on Dec. 19, 2014, when agents said they searched his residence and found a Mosin Nagant 7.62 x 54r, Model 44, rifle, and an Izhmash Saiga .308 semi-automatic rifle, as well as magazines, ammunition and ammunition reloading components.

Scott, who said he had purchased the 9 mm rifle from a co-worker the same day he sold it, previously had been convicted of a felony offense and could not legally possess weapons.

Attorney Margaret Levy had argued in a sentencing memorandum to Judge Stefan R. Underhill that Scott, who worked steadily as a laser punch operator and had a long-term girlfriend and three children, would not pose a risk to society if he was not incarcerated.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni called for a sentence of 18 to 24 months.

Following Scott’s arrest, he acknowledged selling the HiPoint 9mm rifle.

Scott also ultimately admitted that he had obtained the other firearms through his longtime girlfriend, from whom he had concealed his felony record.

He stated that she obtained the firearms at his urging following the shooting in Newtown out of concern for their safety and in order to use for hobby and sporting purposes.