A Boston man, Victor Florentino, 27, is on his way to the clink after his guilty plea today for the illegal possession of some serious firepower. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts revealed that Florentino admitted to having a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
During a stop in Quincy back in April 2022, cops discovered Florentino with a Glock 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of firepower. Having previously been convicted in 2016 for firearms trafficking, it's a big no-no for him to even touch a gun or bullets. According to a statement obtained by the Department of Justice, he's now awaiting sentencing scheduled for April 11, 2024.
The stakes are high as the charge carries a maximum sentence of up to a decade behind bars, a quarter-million-dollar fine, and three years of wearing Uncle Sam's watchful electronic eye during supervised release. Although the U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris will ultimately decide his fate; the sentencing guidelines already paint a grim picture for Florentino's future.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, along with ATF head honcho James Ferguson and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan, spilled the beans about the guilty plea. The case is being spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley, who's part of the squad tackling organized crime and gangs. The case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, aiming to bring down the violence in our streets. As the program aims to reduce crime, it's based on principles like building trust in the community and backing local peacemakers to stop violence before it starts.
