CT convicted felon pleads not guilty to possessing firearm, drugs while on supervised release

A Windsor man has pleaded not guilty to federal firearm and narcotics charges following an indictment by a grand jury.

Andre Johnson, 28, appeared Tuesday in federal court in New Haven where he entered not guilty pleas to charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

An indictment was returned against Johnson on June 25 by a grand jury in New Haven, according to federal officials. He has been in custody since June 11, 2023, when he was arrested in Wethersfield by Connecticut State Police on related state charges.

The day he was arrested, authorities allege that Johnson was in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, ammunition and “distribution quantities” of cocaine and fentanyl.

He had previously been convicted in April 2022 in federal court on drug and firearm trafficking charges, according to officials.

“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,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in a statement.

The charges Johnson faces expose him to a maximum of 35 years in prison. Federal officials also noted that he was on federal supervised release when he was arrested in June 2023 and that he could face additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of that release.