Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition

            CONCORD - Adrian Hardin, 27, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 5, 2020, Manchester police officers responded to a domestic violence call and observed Hardin inside the residence.  The caller advised police that Hardin possessed a firearm.  While speaking with the caller, officers observed Hardin walking away from the residence.  Officers followed Hardin and saw him run into a parking garage and exit moments later.  A police dog went through the garage and located a handgun in the area of the garage where an officer had observed Hardin. After his arrest, Hardin agreed to speak to officers and admitted he possessed the firearm.

            On March 18, 2021, Hardin was arrested by Merrimack police officers on a state warrant.  At the time, Hardin was driving a stolen vehicle.  After the vehicle was towed, an employee of the towing company located two loaded firearms in the center console.  Hardin is forbidden from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a previous felony conviction in 2016.    

            Hardin is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2022.

            “To protect our community from violent crime, we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Despite being a convicted felon, this defendant nevertheless continued to arm himself with firearms.  Such unlawful conduct cannot be tolerated.  In our efforts to keep the Granite State safe, we will not hesitate to pursue federal prosecutions of criminals who endanger our community by possessing guns.”       

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manchester Police Department, and the Merrimack Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M Walsh.

            The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes. 

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