Holyoke Man Indicted on Federal Firearms Charges

BOSTON – Joshua Marrero, 28, of Holyoke, Mass., was indicted in U.S. District Court in Springfield on being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The indictment alleges that on April 19, 2014, Marrero possessed a Lorcin Model L 380 .380 caliber firearm with an obliterated serial number and seven rounds of .380 caliber ammunition.

For those who qualify as armed career criminals, under federal law, the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and a maximum of a lifetime in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.  The charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number provides a sentence of no greater than five 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.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Holyoke Police Chief James M. Neiswanger, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.

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.