30-year-old man sentenced to Bristol County House of Correction on gun charge

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III has announced the conviction and sentencing of a man for carrying a firearm without a license. 

30-year-old Iussufi Vieira-Jau of New Bedford was convicted after a jury trial in the New Bedford District Court before the Honorable Robert Ovoian and was sentenced to serve 18 months in the House of Correction. 

On July 2, 2023, New Bedford Police were dispatched to 18 Beetle Street after 2:00 am for reports of a disturbance involving a firearm. Upon arrival, officers observed a silver sedan pulling away from the front of the residence and effectuated a motor vehicle stop.    The defendant was identified as the operator of the vehicle.  When New Bedford Police encountered Vieira-Jau, he acknowledged having a firearm in his car.  Police recovered a loaded black semi-automatic pistol along with Vieira-Jau’s wallet.  The defendant admitted to police that he retrieved the gun.  Vieira-Jau did not possess a license to carry the firearm.

“This is another example of an individual illegally carrying a loaded firearm in one of our cities and the dangers associated with it,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Justin Bennet and Cymone Martin.