BOSTON – A repeat offender got handed a hefty 30-month prison sentence today after pleading guilty to firearm and ammunition charges, officials say. Victor Florentino, a 29-year-old Boston resident, will also face three years of supervised release following his time behind bars.
According to authorities, during an April 2022 traffic stop in Quincy, Florentino was busted with a Glock 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammo – a serious no-no given his criminal past. A previous felony conviction for firearms trafficking in 2016 meant Florentino wasn't supposed to be anywhere near guns or bullets, especially since he’d just wrapped up a stint of federally supervised release two months prior, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The sentencing was dished out by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris after Florentino's guilty plea last December. "Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)" which is a collaborative effort aiming to bring down violent crime, played a part in nabbing Florentino. The program throws together local enforcement and communities, in the hopes of making the streets a safer place for the common good.
"This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone," the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. Last year, on May 26, the Department ramped up efforts with a new strategy to reinforce PSN, focusing on community trust and strategic enforcement priorities among other key elements. James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Boston Field Division, and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan were both involved in making today's announcement alongside Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levin.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit spearheaded the prosecution. By taking a convicted felon with a penchant for arms trafficking off the streets, authorities are sending a message that they're dead serious about enforcing the nation’s gun laws and protecting the community.
