Dorchester Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

BOSTON – A Dorchester man previously convicted of state firearm charges was sentenced yesterday for illegally possessing a semiautomatic pistol and ammunition. 

Michael King, a/k/a “Rugga”, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On July 14, 2022, King pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

On Dec. 18, 2020, King possessed a Smith & Wesson, Model 442 Airweight, .38 caliber revolver, loaded with five rounds of .38 caliber ammunition. King is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz; and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrisey made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley, Jr. of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.