Career Offender Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Firearm and Drug Offenses

BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for firearms and drug offenses.

Ricardo Colon, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 66 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Colon pleaded guilty in March 2024 to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. 

On March 21, 2022, Colon was found in possession of cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution as well as firearms and ammunition, including a .22 caliber revolver, two 9 mm pistols, multiple gun magazines and 18 rounds of ammunition. Colon is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple previous felony convictions. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Greg Hudon Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.  

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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.