A convicted felon was sentenced to prison this week for a firearm charge after he had an agreement to take possession of ghost guns and ammunition from a man locked up on gun and drug charges.
Brian McManus, 55, of New Britain, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 24 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As part of an investigation into ghost guns in Connecticut, ATF investigators learned that Andrew Francoeur, a Manchester resident, was buying firearm parts from a Missouri company, having the parts shipped to him and manufacturing the guns inside a shipping container in Suffield, court records show. He then sold some of the firearms he manufactured.
While Francoeur was in state custody for firearm and drug offenses, he arranged for McManus to take possession of his guns and ammunition, according to court records. McManus then “sold some of the firearms, broke some into pieces when he learned of the ATF investigation, and ultimately stored Francoeur’s property in two storage bins,” officials said.
Investigators retrieved the storage bins in November 2022 and seized firearm parts, a .22 caliber rifle, over 1,800 rounds of ammunition, 25 high-capacity magazines, M-80 explosives, firearm gear and other items, according to court records.
McManus’ criminal history includes felony convictions for drug, firearm, larceny and failure to appear offenses, making it illegal for him to have firearms or ammunition, court records show.
McManus pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon on April 11. He is currently released on a $25,000 bond and is required to report to prison on Oct 17, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Francoeur pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license on April 27, 2023. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison on Sept. 6, 2023.
