A New Hampshire man is currently facing federal charges for allegedly trafficking high-powered firearms into Massachusetts, according to a recent announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Dennis T. Michaud, Jr., 22, from Nashua, N.H., has been charged with trafficking in firearms, a crime that carries up to 15 years behind bars.
Authorities say the ordeal began around February 2025, with Michaud's operation drawing the attention of law enforcement officials. Undercover officers allegedly contacted him through Snapchat, setting the stage for a series of transactions that would ultimately lead to his arrest. In a deal detailed in the statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Michaud is accused of exchanging a semiautomatic rifle and a 30-round magazine for $900.
The trafficking didn't stop there. Further incidents included the sale of a revolver, another rifle, and a pistol with respective ammunition for $2,100, as well as two more firearms and additional ammunition for $2,250, as outlined in the charging documents. The transactions, records show, took place in Pepperell, a town just over the border in Massachusetts, and Michaud did not have the necessary license for dealing in firearms.
It's worth noting that Michaud was not legally allowed to possess firearms or ammo due to a past conviction related to possession of marijuana. When the final transaction went down last Thursday, Michaud found himself in handcuffs and is now awaiting proceedings in federal court. Despite the severity of the allegations, the presiding judge will base the sentencing on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, with the defendant considered innocent unless proven otherwise. Michaud was taken into custody without incident and is currently detained pending a March 25 hearing.
The cooperative effort that led to Michaud's arrest was a result of teamwork between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, and local Massachusetts and New Hampshire law enforcement agencies. The case, which continues to unfold, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Major Crimes Unit.
