Salem Woman Pleads Guilty To Illegally Purchasing Firearms For Massachusetts Resident

CONCORD - Angelina Keenan, 24, formerly of Salem, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally purchasing firearms for a Massachusetts resident, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on two occasions in December 2016, Keenan purchased guns from federally licensed firearms dealers in Hooksett and Pelham. During each purchase, Keenan filled out an ATF Form 4473, a form that all federally licensed firearms dealers are legally required to complete for over-the-counter firearms sales.  In filling out the form, Keenan falsely stated that she was purchasing the firearms for herself, when in fact, she was purchasing the guns for a Massachusetts man who could not legally purchase them for himself in New Hampshire.  In addition, Keenan represented on the purchase forms that she was not an unlawful drug user, when in fact she was addicted to heroin. 

Keenan pleaded guilty to two counts of making a material false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.  Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 15th, 2018.

            “Those who purchase guns for others illegally can endanger the public because the guns often are used to commit violent crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, the law enforcement community in New Hampshire works each day to keep guns out of the hands of criminals in order to safeguard our community.” 

“Firearms trafficking continues to be a top priority for ATF and our law enforcement partners.  ATF is committed to identifying and disrupting the sources of illegal firearms which jeopardize the safety of our communities,” said Mickey Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.

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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