Sports blog: Stamford Sports Scene
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STAMFORD-- A central figure in the Stamford Latin Kings gang is facing three decades in prison after he pleaded guilty Thursday at U.S. District Court in New Haven to federal charges relating to gun and drug distribution.

Patrick "Pistol" Uzar, 25, of Stamford, pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to transfer a machine gun and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He also faces a $1.5 million fine when he is sentenced on April 30. He was arrested last May as part of a federal gun and drug trafficking investigation that resulted in the confiscation of more than 100 firearms.

Stamford Police Chief Nivakoff said the investigation resulted in "the largest seizure of firearms in the history of the Stamford Police Department."

Prosecutors allege that Uzar had a hand in virtually every aspect of the criminal enterprise -- from the purchase and sale of firearms to the distribution of ecstasy and cocaine.

Law enforcement officials purchased multiple firearms from Uzar and his co-conspirators during the investigation, according to an indictment.

During the federal investigation from July 2010 to April 2011, Uzar sold 33 firearms, including 12 machine guns, prosecutors allege.

Uzar acquired the firearms from relatives, straw purchasers and associates of the Latin Kings and sold the guns illegally, according to the indictment. He allegedly purchased two AK-47s and two nine millimeter sten-style machine guns from his uncle George Uzar Sr., a Norwalk resident.

Prosecutors say Patrick Uzar also distributed ecstasy and cocaine and between September and November 2010, selling nearly 2,000 ecstasy pills, and was involved in the distribution of about 300 grams of cocaine.

Uzar and 16 other individuals were arrested during a series of raids targeting the Stamford Latin Kings in May 2011. He has been imprisoned since his arrest.

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