Lynn Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today for illegally possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon.

Paul Votano, 38, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 13, 2021, Votano pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

In September 2019, Votano arranged the sale of a Romarm Cuguir, AK-47 rifle and over 300 rounds ammunition with a cooperating witness. Following the sale, agents observed Votano carry the ammunition and store it in a vehicle. Due to prior felony convictions, Votano is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This prosecution 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.