BOSTON – A Norwich, Conn. man was sentenced today for illegal possession of ammunition.
Paul Marino, 57, formerly of New Bedford, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 21, 2021, Marino pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition.
On various dates in September 2019, Marino attempted to purchase a handgun and silencer from an undercover agent. During a search of Marino’s home in New Bedford on Sept. 26, 2019, agents seized three 9mm handgun magazines and 277 rounds of 9mm ammunition from a closet in Marino’s bedroom. The ammunition was in a FedEx box addressed to “Vincent Amoroso” in Rhode Island, bearing a return address in Tennessee. Counterfeit Virginia identification documents were also seized in the aliases of Vincent Amoroso and Christian Bennington, each of which bore Marino’s photograph, and an American Express card in the name of Christian Bennington.
Due to a prior federal conviction for wire fraud, Marino is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Additionally, after pleading guilty, Marino submitted several letters to the court that were purported to be from others in support of a lesser sentence for the defendant but were in fact altered and fraudulent – including letters with forged signatures and a letter purported to be from an individual who was deceased at the time.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The New Bedford Police Department provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Abely, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.