Weymouth Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Assault-Style Weapons and Ammunition

BOSTON – A Weymouth man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with possessing assault-style weapons and ammunition.

Robert Nicholas Kurtzer, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. According to court documents, Kurtzer was prohibited from possessing ammunition and/or firearms because of a prior state conviction for armed robbery. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 13, 2017.

In spring 2016, agents conducted an investigation into Kurtzer’s activities. On July 12, 2016, law enforcement officers stopped a pick-up truck, in which Kurtzer was a passenger, for a traffic violation. Kurtzer was carrying a large knife on his hip and a canister of pepper spray. Officers asked Kurtzer if there were any weapons in the vehicle, and Kurtzer replied, “Lots of them.” Kurtzer was searched and found in possession of: (1) a 10.5 inch Smith and Wesson fixed blade knife; (2) a canister of Sabre Red O/C spray; (3) one .300 AAC BLK caliber bullet; (4) several .22 caliber long rifle ammunition; and (5) seven .45 caliber Winchester ammunition.

Following Kurtzer’s arrest, officers searched Kurtzer’s Weymouth residence and a secondary storage locker where the following items were seized: two assault rifles (including a Midwest Industries AR15-style assault rifle with an optic scope attached to the top, and an AR15-style assault rifle with unknown manufacturer and a 37mm flare launcher attached to it); a Marlin bolt-action rifle with an obliterated serial number; two handguns (including a .45 caliber pistol bearing serial number 0615-020055; and a Colt MKIV Series 80 pistol, bearing an after-market Punisher logo); numerous weapons parts for use in the assembly of assault rifles and handguns; one firearm silencer; approximately six unfinished, partly assembled firearm silencers; milling machinery used to manufacture handguns and rifles; and approximately 671 rounds of assorted ammunition.

The charging statute 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.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Cannon of Weinreb’s Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.