Providence Man Indicted on Firearms Trafficking Charge

BOSTON – A Providence, R.I. man was indicted by a federal grand jury today on a firearms trafficking charge. 

Chiweze Ihunwo, 24, previously of Randolph, Mass., was indicted on one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. Ihunwo was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in November 2020 and has been detained since.

According to charging documents, Ihunwo acquired numerous firearms in North Carolina and then re-sold them for a profit. In addition, Ihunwo allegedly made arrangements to sell firearms to a person who was soon thereafter arrested in connection with a June 23, 2020 shooting incident on I-95 in Providence, R.I. According to the charging documents, Ihunwo also made numerous social media posts referencing firearms or ammunition.

During a search of Ihunwo’s residence in Providence, an AK-style handgun and various rounds of ammunition were recovered. 

The charge of dealing in firearms without a license carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Randolph Police Department, the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Chief of Lelling’s Major Crimes 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.