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Press Release

Convicted Felon Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for the Possession of Firearms, Ammunition, Machineguns and Homemade Silencers

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Hampshire

CONCORD – A Jaffrey man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for firearm offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Luke Czekalski, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty to 40 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.  On June 3, 2024, Czekalski pleaded guilty to possession of firearms which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

“The defendant lost his right to possess firearms when he was convicted of a prior felony. Undeterred, he possessed an arsenal in his basement which included firearms, ammunition, and loaded magazines. The National Firearm Act has additional specific prohibitions regarding the possession of machine guns and silencers, which the defendant also had in his residence,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “Law enforcement in the District of New Hampshire will continue to use all resources available to remove illegal weapons from the streets and out of the hands of felons.”

"Illegally possessed firearms continue to pose significant challenges for law enforcement, especially with the growing threat of firearms illegally modified for fully automatic fire," said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. "Through collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to identifying, targeting, and removing these illegal weapons to enhance the safety of our communities and protect the public."

In November 2022, New Hampshire state parole officers conducted an unannounced visit at the defendant’s residence in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.  The defendant was on parole following his release from custody for a prior felony conviction.  While the parole officers conducted their search, they encountered several bins in the basement that contained firearms, ammunition, loaded magazines, as well as body armor and other miscellaneous items.  Members of the Jaffrey Police Department then provided additional assistance, leading to the seizure of eight homemade firearms and five homemade silencers in addition to assorted ammunition.  After testing, three of the firearms displayed fully automatic firing capabilities during test fires, thus making them “machineguns” under federal law.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Jaffrey Police Department led the investigation.  The New Hampshire Department of Corrections’ Division of Field Services and New Hampshire Forensic Laboratory provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.  

 

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Updated September 25, 2024

Topics
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime