Florida Gun Trafficker Sentenced for Shipping Guns to Aaron Hernandez and Lying to Cover Up

BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Boston today for trafficking firearms to former New England Patriots football player, Aaron Hernandez, and lying to a federal Grand Jury to conceal his role.     

Oscar Hernandez, Jr., 24 of Belle Glade, Fla. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison and three years of supervised release.  In January 2015, Hernandez pleaded guilty to three counts of making false declarations before the Grand Jury, one count of obstruction of justice, one count of witness tampering, and one count of conspiracy to transfer a firearm from an unlicensed person whose residence is in a different state.

“The illegal trafficking of firearms in our country threatens the safety of each and every community as well as the laws that ensure safe gun ownership,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.  “This case demonstrates that no one is immune from the scrutiny of the law, and, that in the end, justice will prevail.”

“Firearms trafficking continues to be a top priority for ATF and our law enforcement partners and we are committed to identifying and disrupting the sources of illegal firearms which jeopardize the safety of our communities,” said Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division.

Hernandez, Jr. was engaged in a conspiracy with former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez (no relation) and others to purchase firearms in Florida and deliver the firearms to Aaron Hernandez in Massachusetts.  Three of the guns provided by Hernandez, Jr. to Aaron Hernandez were recovered during the course of the homicide investigation of victim Odin Lloyd.

Aaron Hernandez funded the conspiracy by providing Hernandez, Jr. with $15,000 to buy the guns.  Hernandez, Jr. bought an older model Toyota Camry to ship the guns from Florida to Massachusetts, and arranged and paid for the transportation of the car from Florida to Aaron Hernandez’s residence in North Attleboro.   Aaron Hernandez’s girlfriend, Shayanna Jenkins, paid for the delivery of the car which contained the guns, and which was then stored in Aaron Hernandez’s garage.  Aaron Hernandez’s palm print was recovered from one of the guns recovered from the Toyota Camry.

In December 2013, Hernandez, Jr. lied to the Grand Jury concerning his and others’ involvement in the gun trafficking scheme and obstructed justice by delaying the Grand Jury’s investigation.  Furthermore, Hernandez, Jr. attempted to influence a Grand Jury witness’ testimony by repeatedly asking the witness to lie to protect him and others from criminal responsibility.   

During today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Young noted the need to protect the public from those, like Hernandez, Jr., who ship guns illegally into Massachusetts, and described the conspiracy as an extraordinarily dangerous and serious crime.  Young also said that witness tampering and coaching another witness to lie, were crimes that go to the heart of the justice system.

U.S. Attorney Ortiz , SAC Kumor, and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn A. MacKinlay of Ortiz’s Organized Crime & Gang Unit.