Springfield Man Sentenced for Possession of Stolen Firearms

BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for possessing three stolen firearms, including a rifle and two revolvers.  

Luis Velez, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 12, 2021, Velez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of stolen firearms.

On July 5, 2019, Velez was in possession of three stolen firearms: a Savage Arms, Model 25 Walking Varminter, .22 caliber rifle, a Hermann Weihrauch, Model ARM 44, .44 caliber revolver and a Smith & Wesson, Model 625, .45 caliber revolver, knowing or having cause to believe these firearms were stolen.  

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine G. Curley and Neil L. Desroches of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office 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.