Three Connecticut men have been indicted for the illegal trafficking and possession of firearms, officials said.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Connecticut, 35-year-old Julian Foster of Hartford, 37-year-old Lateecha Gordon of Hartford and 43-year-old Terrell Barnes of New Haven have been accused in a firearms trafficking conspiracy. Foster and Barnes were also charged with illegally possessing a firearm, since they are both convicted felons.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an ATF investigation determined that Foster was acquiring firearms from a source in Texas, transporting them to Connecticut, and offering them for sale. The investigation also revealed that Gordon and Barnes were assisting Foster.
On Sept. 3, an undercover ATF agent purchased a 9mm pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a 5.56 caliber rifle from Foster in exchange for $6,000 in New Haven, officials said. At the meeting, Foster anllegedly indicated that he intended to acquire more weapons that he would sell to the undercover agent.
On Sept. 11, Foster and Gordon were both arrested in Huntsville, Texas. Their arrest came after Huntsville Police stopped Foster’s vehicle and found three firearms in the engine bay of the vehicle, police said. Gordon was also reportedly found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Sept. 12, police searched a storage facility that Gordon rented in Houston and reportedly found five firearms, ammunition, gun magazines, miscellaneous gun parts, and other items.
“It is further alleged that on Sept. 19, Foster contacted the undercover agent and offered to sell additional firearms. Foster provided the agent with photos of two firearms and a video of an auto sear conversion device, which, when equipped to a firearm, allows it to shoot at a fully automatic rate. It is alleged that investigators seized an AM-15 rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun from Foster’s vehicle in New Haven after he was federally arrested on September 30,” according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Foster, Gordon, and Barnes have all been charged with firearms trafficking conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison. The indictment also charges Foster and Barnes with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which also carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison, according to officials.
Foster was arrested on Sept. 30, 2025, and is currently detained, according to officials. Gordon and Barnes were arrested Friday and pleaded not guilty in New Haven Superior Court and released on $100,000 bonds.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at [email protected]