Feds: CT man sold, ‘loaned’ out 47 guns

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ENFIELD — An Enfield man faces years in federal prison for allegedly illegally selling dozens of guns he purchased himself, including one used in a Hartford shooting last summer, according to officials.

Norman Klosek, 35, of Enfield, pleaded guilty Monday to offenses related to his illegal sale of numerous guns, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.

In the spring of 2019, authorities said, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force started court-authorized wiretaps on a member of the Los Solidos street gang who was allegedly distributing fentanyl and cocaine in and around Hartford.

Investigators intercepted communications that revealed Klosek, who had a valid state pistol permit, was acting as a “straw purchaser” of guns for the target of the investigation who couldn’t lawfully buy or have guns based on his criminal history.

On April 22, 2019, the target of the investigation picked up Klosek — also known as Rich Klosek — in Enfield and drove to the Newington Gun Exchange, a licensed gun dealer. There, authorities said, Klosek bought two handguns.

“During the purchase, Klosek completed and signed an ATF Form 4473 form in which he falsely represented that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms and was not acquiring the firearms for another person,” the news release said.

He allegedly also indicated he was “not an unlawful user, or addicted to, any controlled substance,” authorities said. Klosek then gave the guns to the target of the law enforcement investigation.

Later that day, investigators initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle of the target of their investigation and recovered the two guns, officials said.

Further investigation indicated that Klosek, who allegedly had an escalating drug addiction, first bought and registered a gun in Connecticut on Nov. 6, 2018. Since then, authorities said, Klosek purchased 45 guns — in addition to the two guns he bought on April 22, 2019.

Twenty-five of the guns were purchased from March 8 through April 22, 2019.

On April 24, 2019, a search of Klosek’s residence led investigators to empty gun boxes and receipts for gun purchases, but no actual firearms.

Klosek was arrested in Hartford on April 25, 2019. At the time of his arrest, authorities said, Klosek had fentanyl/heroin in his possession. Officials said Klosek admitted he was addicted to drugs and that he had sold or “loaned” the guns he bought.

As of Monday, authorities said, 10 of the 47 guns bought by Klosek have been recovered by law enforcement. One gun was recovered after it was used in a shooting on Aug. 22, 2019, in Hartford, officials said.

Klosek pleaded guilty to dealing firearms without a license and making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm. The first charge carries a maximum term of five years in prison while the latter carries a maximum term of 10 years.

On June 27, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned a 32-count indictment that charged 15 members and associates of the Los Solidos street gang with various narcotics trafficking and gun possession offenses, officials said.

Klosek was released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing, which was scheduled for May 26.