Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Charge

BOSTON – Joshua Ortiz, 23, of Springfield, pleaded guilty yesterday to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for March 25, 2016.

On Oct. 10, 2014, Ortiz possessed a HiPoint Model JHP .45 caliber firearm and eight rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.  After being spotted with the firearm by law enforcement officers, Ortiz fled and was later arrested when he appeared in Court on an unrelated matter.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.