Southington Man Sentenced For Ghost Gun, Marijuana Trafficking: Feds

SOUTHINGTON/BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Southington man was sentenced Wednesday to more than seven years in federal prison for illegally dealing privately made AR-15-style firearms, ammunition and marijuana, federal prosecutors said.

Bryan Joyce, 40, was sentenced to 90 months in prison (7.5 years) followed by three years of supervised release from U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

Federal authorities said the investigation began in January 2022 after Connecticut State Police received information that Joyce was selling assault weapons, ammunition, firearm accessories and privately manufactured firearms commonly known as “ghost guns.”

According to court documents, Joyce sold an undercover law enforcement officer a privately made AR-15-style rifle, a privately made 9mm handgun and ammunition for $2,000 on Jan. 28, 2022.

On March 4, 2022, Joyce sold the undercover officer two loaded AR-15-style rifles and about 400 grams of marijuana for $5,800.

Prosecutors said Joyce also offered, for an additional fee, to provide fully automatic firearms.

Joyce was arrested on March 21, 2022, in a Waterbury parking lot after arranging to sell five additional privately made AR-15-style rifles and a kilogram of marijuana to the undercover officer.

Authorities said investigators recovered the firearms, marijuana, and ammunition from his vehicle during the arrest.

Investigators later identified Gregory Leary of Wolcott as Joyce’s firearm supplier.

A search of Leary’s home uncovered multiple privately made rifles and handguns, additional firearms, firearm manufacturing equipment, and more than $7,000 in cash, prosecutors said.

Federal officials said Joyce has prior felony convictions involving drug, burglary, and larceny offenses, making it illegal for him to possess firearms or ammunition under federal law.

Joyce pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024, to charges including dealing firearms without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon and marijuana distribution offenses.

Prosecutors said Joyce had been free on bond before being detained again in April 2024 following an arrest connected to a domestic violence incident.

Leary previously pleaded guilty and admitted to manufacturing and selling more than 25 firearms to Joyce.

He was sentenced in November 2023 to 30 months in prison.

For more information on the case, click on this link.