Danbury couple sentenced to prison time for illegal firearms purchase, feds say

In a release, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut said Darnell Macon Sr., 46, was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, while Kharisma Brooks, 24, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Macon and Brooks visited a federally licensed firearms dealer in Kent in May 2021, where Macon possessed, then Brooks purchased, a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol.  

Macon was convicted in New York of two counts of first-degree assault in 2002, the U.S. attorney’s office said, adding he was convicted in New York of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in 2003. It noted 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.

On June 7, 2021, the U.S. attorney’s office said, ATF special agents investigating the firearm purchase on May 27, and another firearm purchased by Brooks in Stratford on May 25, visited Macon’s and Brooks’ Danbury residence and recovered the two firearms, which were located in Macon’s bedroom closet.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Macon was found guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon last year, while Brooks was found guilty of one count of aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. It said the jury found Brooks not guilty of one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Macon and Brooks, who are released on bond and residing in Springfield, Mass., are required to report to prison Jan. 15.