Stoughton Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms

BOSTON – A Stoughton man was arrested yesterday and charged with illegal possession of firearms.

Michael Robert Moura, 27, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Following an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler in federal court in Boston, Moura was detained pending a detention hearing set for May 3, 2021.

As alleged in charging documents, due to an April 2020 conviction in Worcester County punishable by more than one year in prison, Moura is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Despite this prohibition, Moura endeavored to purchase a firearm over several months in 2020, and again in February 2021. On the morning of April 28, 2021, Moura succeeded.  He purchased a Glock handgun, an assault rifle, pistol and rifle magazines, and over 100 rounds of ammunition in a parking lot in Brockton. Moura was arrested by federal agents and the handgun, rifle, ammunition, and magazines were seized.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), in cooperation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division and the Brockton and Stoughton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff of Mendell’s National Security 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.