BOSTON – A Lowell man was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston on firearms trafficking charges.
Isael Rodriguez, 27, was charged with one count of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of making false statements to acquire firearms from a licensed dealer. Rodriguez was released on conditions following an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. District Court Chief Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley.
According to the indictment, Rodriguez purchased firearms from a licensed dealer, falsely claiming that he was purchasing them for himself and then resold the firearms for profit to individuals in Boston.
The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making false statements to acquire firearms from a licensed dealer provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; Lowell Superintendent of Police Raymond Kelly Richardson; Brookline Police Acting Chief Richard Allen; and Brockton Police Acting Chief Steve Williamson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.