Boston Man Charged with Firearm Offenses

BOSTON – A Boston man has been charged with illegal possession of firearms stemming from his alleged posts on social media.

Dumari Shakur Scarlett-Dixon, 20, was charged with one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, Scarlett-Dixon was detained pending a detention hearing which is scheduled for Dec. 21, 2021.

According to court documents, in September 2021, law enforcement identified Scarlett-Dixon as a member of the Heath Street gang, a Boston-area street gang. Scarlett-Dixon has four unlawful possession of firearm charges currently pending: one in Suffolk County Juvenile Court; one in Dorchester District Court; and two in Roxbury District Court. Additionally, Scarlett-Dixon was on court-ordered home confinement at his grandmother’s residence in Weymouth at the time. It is alleged that agents identified images and posts Scarlett-Dixon made on Snapchat. Many of the Snapchat posts included images of Scarlett-Dixon allegedly holding firearms in a shooting position towards the camera and pictured him in possession of firearms with extended ammunition clips.

According to the charging documents, on Sept. 24, 2021, a search of the Weymouth residence resulted in the seizure of a Bersa 9 millimeter semiautomatic pistol loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition in a high capacity ammunition clip under a pillow on Scarlett-Dixon’s bed. Agents also seized 36 additional rounds of 9 millimeter ammunition and 10 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. Marijuana blunts were also allegedly observed to be scattered throughout the room. A search of Scarlett-Dixon’s phone revealed that the defendant regularly searched for information about firearms, including “Tactical Green Laser Light Combo Led Pistol Gun Rechargeable Battery,” “High Capacity Magazines” and “Ruger ec9s laser light combo,” in addition to press releases for Boston-area gun and drug trafficking arrests.

The charge of being a drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 year in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.