A Franklin man with a pending gun case against him now faces federal charges for dealing firearms while on pretrial release. Juan Otero, 22, was hit with charges of operating without a firearms license and receiving weapons while under indictment, as the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.
Despite being out on release, Otero allegedly sold five guns, including one with a "Glock switch," capable of turning the pistol into a makeshift machine gun, between Nov. 27, 2023 and Jan. 23, 2024, as the Department of Justice detailed. Accompanying the firearms were large capacity magazines and a stash of ammunition, authorities said.
Otero's legal troubles began in 2022 when he was indicted by Worcester Superior Court for possessing an illegal large capacity weapon, among other charges. As part of his pretrial conditions, he was not permitted to engage in firearms transactions.
If convicted of the federal charges, Otero is looking at up to five years behind bars, three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000 for each count. These guidelines, as the Department of Justice noted, are subject to discretion of the federal court based on existing statutes and sentencing guidelines.
Officials including Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and ATF Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson announced Otero's charges, with contributions from several state and local law enforcement agencies. The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, aiming to curb violent crime and gun violence through community and law enforcement partnerships.
Otero was detained after his appearance in federal court in Worcester on March 1, before Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy. The accusations are still just that, allegations, with Otero's presumption of innocence maintained until, or if, proven guilty in a court of law.
