Manchester Man Sentenced to 198 Months in Prison for Assaulting and Robbing a Victim During a Gun Transaction

            CONCORD- Anthony R. Farmer, 26, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 198 months in prison for assaulting and robbing an individual who was seeking to purchase firearms, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 21, 2017, the defendant and two co-defendants participated in the assault and robbery at gunpoint of a person who was assisting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The defendant and his co-defendants arranged for the victim to come to a residence in Nashua on the pretext that they would be illegally selling firearms to the victim.  They then assaulted and robbed the victim of the money that was for the gun purchase.  Because the victim was assisting federal agents, the victim had been equipped with audio and video surveillance equipment that recorded the robbery and assault.  Soon after the crime occurred, the defendant and his co-defendants were arrested.  They each had some of the money that had been taken from the victim. 

            Farmer pleaded guilty on August 20, 2018, to conspiracy, robbery, assault, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

            Co-defendant Raymond Perez was sentenced to 51 months. The third co-defendant, Aaron Sperow, was sentenced to 102 months in prison.

            “Violent crime involving firearms is a grave threat to the safety of the public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “This substantial sentence shows that there will be serious consequences for those who choose to participate in crimes of violence.  Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our cities and towns from gun violence.”

            “Today’s sentencing demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to protect our communities from violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelly D. Brady, ATF Boston Field Division.   “ATF will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to eradicate violent gun related crime and keep our neighborhoods safe.”                     

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nashua Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.

            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.

###