East Haven Man, 22, Sentenced To Prison: Feds

EAST HAVEN, CT — Giovanni Donofrio, 22, of East Haven was sentenced Friday to six months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for manufacturing and selling firearms without a license, federal authorities said in a news release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 8, 2021, New Haven Police stopped a vehicle that was known to have been involved in a shots-fired incident, federal authorities said.

Inside the vehicle officers found three firearms, two of which were privately-made Polymer80 semi-automatic pistols (“ghost guns”) with Glock slides, federal authorities said.

A trace of the serial numbers on the Glock slides revealed that Donofrio had purchased them in November 2021, federal authorities said.

A subsequent court-authorized search of Donofrio’s residence revealed gun-making equipment, including a power drill and bits, multiple Polymer80 jigs, empty packaging for 50 round 9mm drums, multiple slides, an AR15 Carbine Buffer Kit, and other items, federal authorities said.

In addition, a search of Donofrio’s phone revealed numerous text messages indicating that Donofrio was manufacturing and selling firearms, federal authorities said.

The investigation also revealed that between November 25 and December 5, 2021, the two ghost guns manufactured by Donofrio that were recovered during the car stop had been used in six shooting incidents where at least four houses were struck by gunfire, federal authorities said. Witnesses to some of the shooting incidents reported a vehicle chase with occupants shooting at each other, federal authorities said.

Donofrio was arrested on October 31, 2022. On June 12, 2023, he pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and admitted that he built and sold at least five firearms, federal authorities said.

Donofrio, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on October 3.