Brockton Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearms

BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced on Monday, April 11, 2022, in connection with attempting to purchase six firearms from an undercover agent.

Rotchill Seme, 21, of Brockton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release, with the first 11 months spent in home detention. On Dec. 15, 2021, Seme pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.

On May 25, 2020, Seme began texting with an uncover agent about purchasing multiple firearms. After meeting on May 27, 2020, Seme agreed to purchase six handguns from the undercover agent for $3,500. Seme’s text messages to the undercover agent indicated that he intended to sell the newly acquired firearms and looked forward to buying and selling a steady flow of firearms.

On June 3, 2020, Seme met the undercover agent in a Brockton fast food restaurant parking lot to conduct the transaction. As the meeting concluded, uniformed law enforcement approached the vehicle to arrest Seme. Seme jumped out of the driver’s side window and attempted to flee, resulting in a chase through the parking lot during which Seme engaged in struggles with the pursuing officers on two occasions, but was subsequently apprehended. Seme, who was wearing an ankle GPS bracelet at the time of his arrest, was on parole following state convictions for various drug and firearms offenses and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.