Former Boston Police Officer Charged in Connection with Straw Purchases of Firearms

BOSTON – A former Boston Police Officer was arrested today and charged in connection with illegally purchasing two firearms on behalf of acquaintances.

Adarbaad Karani, 37, of West Roxbury, was charged in an indictment unsealed today with two counts of making false statement during the purchase of firearms and two counts of making a false statement in a record. Karani was released on conditions following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein. In November 2016, Karani resigned from the Boston Police Department.

According to the Indictment, in November 2014 and September 2015, Karani acted as the “straw purchaser” of two firearms, a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol and a Glock, model 30S, .45 caliber pistol, by purchasing them on behalf of acquaintances while falsely claiming the guns were for his official police use and not for resale. One of the weapons, however, was found in possession of Desmond Crawford, an alleged member of the Columbia Point Dawgs, at the time of his arrest in November 2015. Karani allegedly used his police identification to acquire the weapons, which may not be purchased by civilians, and certified on federal forms that the guns were for official police use. Straw purchases interfere with firearm regulation and recordkeeping, and federal law makes it a crime to knowingly make false statements to a firearms dealer in connection with the sale of a firearm.

The charging statutes each provide for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Weinreb’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.