CONTACT: Tom Carson, Public Information Office, (203) 821-3722, (203) 996-1393 (cell)

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced today that EDWARD DAILEY, age 42, of 65 Sumner Street, Hartford, Connecticut, pleaded guilty on February 9, 2004, to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. DAILEY's plea of guilty was accepted by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven.

DAILEY, who was previously convicted on January 9, 1995, of Assault of a Corrections Officer and Sale of Narcotics, and on February 11, 1987, of Assault of a Peace Officer, admitted that on October 8, 2002, he possessed a Lorcin .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun. The gun was recovered when DAILEY was stopped on Earl Street by Hartford Police after they received information he was in possession of a firearm and after they observed him engaging in narcotics activity at that location.

DAILEY is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Arterton on April 28, 2004. At that time, because of his three prior convictions for crimes of violence and serious drug offenses, DAILEY is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, maximum life imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000 pursuant to the Federal Armed Career Criminal Act.

"Thanks to the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, another violent repeat offender has been removed from the streets of Hartford," U.S. O'Connor stated. "The federal government will continue to work closely with the Hartford Police in order to target and arrest violent individuals who possess guns, hopefully before they get a chance to use them."

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and officers of the Hartford Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas V. Daily.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, and improving the safety of residents in Hartford and other Connecticut cities. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.