Man who stole 38 firearms from CT gun store pleads guilty to federal weapon and drug charges

A man has pleaded guilty to federal drug and gun charges in connection with a burglary at a gun store in Newington where authorities said he cut a hole in the building and dropped down from the ceiling before stealing more than three dozen firearms.

Kwitzpatrick Duffany, 37, formerly of Willimantic, took a plea deal during a hearing on Monday in federal court in New Haven, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of theft of firearms from a licensee and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. The charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

On May 27, 2023, while the store was closed, Duffany climbed onto the balcony over the main entrance of Hoffman’s Gun Store in Newington and cut into the siding with a knife, according to federal officials. He then dropped down from the ceiling and made his way around the store, filling duffel bags with 38 guns, which officials said was caught on video surveillance footage.

Authorities said Duffany then left the store through the same hole and went to Hartford with two other individuals to trade several of the guns for cash and drugs. According to federal officials, Duffany spent the next few days selling the rest of the guns for cash and narcotics. Some of the firearms were provided to other individuals to sell.

Duffany was arrested by Connecticut State Police in the early morning on June 1, 2023, in Ashford where surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed him hiding a satchel in a soda display case shortly before the arrest. Investigators recovered the satchel and found a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun and drugs inside the bag. The gun was found to have been stolen from Hoffman’s.

Duffany, who has been detained since the arrest, is scheduled to face sentencing on April 28.