A 42-year-old New London man who sold a gun to a confidential informant was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to 16 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a gun and ammunition.

Manuel "Manny" Arteaga, 42, had pleaded guilty in May to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant also imposed three years of supervised release.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office and court documents, in December 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that Arteaga was attempting to sell firearms. On Jan. 26, 2017, an individual working with law enforcement purchased a 9mm Kahr handgun, which was loaded with five rounds of ammunition, from Arteaga for $650.

Arteaga's criminal history includes state felony convictions in 2003, in both Connecticut and New York, for firearm and drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

In a related state narcotics investigation, members of the Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Task Force – East conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine from Arteaga between April and June 2017. Narcotics charges are pending against him in New London Superior Court.