Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm

BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to federal firearm offenses.

Martin Fernandez, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Nov. 14, 2017.

On Jan. 8, 2014, federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities in Springfield found Fernandez in possession of a sawed-off 16-gauge shotgun.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a minimum of one year but no greater than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $150,000. The charge of possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a minimum of one year but no greater than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri; and Holyoke Police Chief James Neiswanger made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of Weinreb’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.