A 26-year-old Fall River man, Benjamin Hunt, is facing federal charges after his arrest for allegedly utilizing the Telegram app to sell drugs and illegal firearms, including machine guns. According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hunt has been charged with three counts of distribution of controlled substances and one count of transferring machine guns.
Federal authorities detailed that Hunt allegedly used the U.S. mail, after advertising on Telegram, to distribute narcotics and firearms across the nation. In exchange for payment through Bitcoin, the man who appeared before a federal court in Boston was detained and is pending a September 5 hearing. As part of the sting, on two occasions in early 2024, law enforcement conducted undercover purchases from Hunt, which included hundreds of pills suspected to contain fentanyl and shipped using the U.S. mail after receiving Bitcoin payment.
Hunt also stands accused of selling ghost guns and machinegun conversion devices, frequently referred to as "switches." These are designed to transform firearms into fully automatic weapons and are often untraceable due to the absence of serial numbers. Earlier in June 2024, another undercover law enforcement purchase led to the acquisition of a Glock-type privately made firearm, machinegun conversion parts, and additional counterfeit pills.
Building on their investigation, law enforcement authorities successfully intercepted several packages believed to be in transit to or from Hunt. In one package that contained a smoke grenade and another that contained 13 machinegun conversion devices, they were mailed to Hunt. The equipment revealed by a series of search warrants executed by law enforcement included drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and others, significant numbers of firearms, and 3D printers capable of producing firearms.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy remarked, "This arrest underscores our commitment to dismantling dangerous networks that use technology to facilitate the illegal distribution of deadly drugs and highly dangerous and illegal firearms. As alleged, Mr. Hunt exploited encrypted messaging platforms and the anonymity of cryptocurrency to peddle lethal narcotics and untraceable weapons, endangering communities across the country. The sheer volume of drugs and firearms seized during this investigation highlights the significant threat posed by these activities. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from the scourge of illegal drugs and violent crime." Levy's comments emphasized the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies, underscoring the persistent battle against illegal drug distribution and associated violent crimes.
The investigation and subsequent arrest involved joint efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as several local Massachusetts police departments. This case forms part of a broader Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation that aims to identify and disrupt high-level criminal organizations posing a threat to the United States.
Hunt's case is still ongoing. Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
