A 36-year-old Norwich man pleaded guilty on Monday to a federal firearm charge related to his arrest by Norwich police in 2021 when he was found to be in possession of 600 bags of fentanyl.

James Baker pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said in a statement.

On Feb. 3, 2021, Norwich Police stopped Baker for a motor vehicle violation and found the drugs and a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol under the driver’s seat. Baker’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for assault, burglary, weapon and drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Baker, at his sentencing on Sept. 27, faces a maximum of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison. He has been detained since his arrest.