U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton sentenced a 28-year-old New London man Thursday to seven years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for heroin and firearm offenses.

Gabriel Paulino, who has been detained since he was arrested in April 2016, pleaded guilty in February to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

According to the government, Paulino was arrested on April 6, 2016, after a court-authorized search of his apartment revealed a fully loaded Beretta 9mm handgun, a Beretta "Silver Pigeon" 12-gauge shotgun, 12-gauge shotgun shells, 94 individually knotted bags of heroin, items used to process and package drugs for street sale, and several cellphones. The 9mm handgun had been reported stolen.

Paulino's criminal history includes convictions for criminal possession of a firearm, possession with intent to sell, possession of narcotics and violation of a protective order.

The case was investigated by the New London Police Department, Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.