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Press Release

Dorchester Man Sentenced for Illegally Selling Three Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Dorchester man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with illegal, street-level gun trafficking.

 

Victor Florentino, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2017, Florentino pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing with firearms without a license.

 

In 2015 and 2016, a federal investigation identified a network of street gangs, which had created alliances to traffick weapons and drugs throughout Massachusetts and generate violence against rival gang members. Based on the investigation, 53 defendants were indicted in June 2016 on federal firearm and drug charges, including defendants who are allegedly leaders, members, and associates of the 18th Street Gang, the East Side Money Gang and the Boylston Street Gang. These gangs operated primarily in the East Boston, Boston, Chelsea, Brockton, Malden, Revere and Everett areas. During the course of the investigation, over 70 firearms, cocaine, cocaine base (crack), heroin and fentanyl were seized.

 

During the investigation, Florentino was identified as having been actively involved in illegal, street-level, firearms trafficking in the Boston area. He brokered the sale of three handguns to a cooperating witness: an AMT, Backup, 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number; a Beretta, Model 84B, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and a JP Sauer & Sohn, .44 Magnum revolver.

 

Florentino is the 10th defendant to plead guilty.

 

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal of the District of Massachusetts; Maura Healey, Attorney General of Massachusetts; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes; and Brockton Police Chief John Crowley, made the announcement today. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also acknowledges the assistance of the Suffolk and Middlesex County Sheriff Departments and the Malden, Revere and Everett Police Departments.

 

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

Updated June 8, 2017

Topic
Firearms Offenses