A 37-year-old Haverhill man, known on the streets as "Summers," is behind bars after being caught with a "ghost gun" loaded with a hefty cache of ammo, federal say. Rashad Diggs, who couldn't legally pack heat due to his felon status, is now facing a federal charge that could have him locked up for up to 15 years, following his arrest in Revere.
Law enforcement snagged Diggs this month after they discovered he was holding onto a semiautomatic pistol with the serial number scratched off a move that's frowned upon by the law especially when you've got a rap sheet, as first reported by the Justice Department. The gun was kitted out with over 40 rounds, and considering Diggs' past felony conviction, the feds are saying he shouldn't have had the piece, much less the bullets, in the first place.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts, the man's now in federal custody and he had his day in court yesterday, with the next appearance scheduled for Jan. 22. If convicted, Diggs could face a hefty fine to the tune of $250,000, not to mention a few years under watchful federal eyes even after he's done his cell time, based on the indictment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle, a member of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit, has been tapped to lead the charge. Diggs has yet to be proven guilty of these latest allegations.
