All USAO Press Releases

PROVIDENCE – A West Greenwich man who was previously convicted and incarcerated on state felony firearm charges and who was later found by federal agents to be illegally in possession of firearms and parts to make – and stockpile – a collection of un-serialized, privately made firearms, also known as “ghost guns,” along with silencers and thousands of rounds of ammunition, was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

“For more than a year, the defendant led the charge in stalking, beating, stabbing, and eventually shooting an elderly man purely for money,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “The lengthy sentence meted out brings an end to the brutality of this violent group. The community is safer as a result.”

BOSTON – A Framingham man was indicted today for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Elias Nick Costianes, age 44, formerly of Nottingham, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession of firearms and ammunition by an unlawful user of any controlled substance. 

SAN FRANCISCO – Two defendants allegedly committed crimes while standing in front of the surveillance cameras of the federal building on Seventh and Mission Streets in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. A federal grand jury indicted Rodolfo Sagastume-Pineda and the Office of the United States Attorney has filed a federal criminal