Springfield Man Pleads To Firearms And Drug Charges Agrees To 10 Year Prison Sentence

BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2014 in U.S. District Court in Worcester with conspiring to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition and with conspiring to distribute cocaine.

Kevin Sligar, 30, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with conspiring to possess a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison and with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute cocaine.

According to the facts agreed to by the parties, from approximately April 1, 2012 through July 21, 2012, Sligar operated a narcotics distribution operation, in and around Springfield, with three co-conspirators in which they distributed at least 300 grams of cocaine and an indeterminate amount of marijuana. In furtherance of their narcotics distribution operation, Sligar and a co-conspirator (“co-conspirator A”) jointly possessed a Hi-Point Model C9, 9mm pistol, even though both Sligar and the co-conspirator A had been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

During the evening of July 21, 2012, Sligar and his co-conspirators traveled to the Polish Festival in Ludlow in a Dodge Neon (the “Neon”). After leaving the festival, they encountered another car occupied by three individuals who were later identified by the police. While both cars were stopped at a traffic light, an argument broke out between the occupants of the other car and the occupants of the Neon. During the course of the argument, Sligar brandished the pistol. Shortly thereafter, the other car drove away, and the occupants called 911. The Neon attempted to escape the Springfield Police by driving at very high rates of speed, but ultimately crashed at an intersection, injuring Sligar and all of his co-conspirators A, B and C. During the search of the Neon, the SPD pistol, which was fully loaded with 9mm ammunition, was recovered.

According to Sligar’s Plea Agreement, Sligar has also agreed to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in a related case in Hampden Superior Court.

Sligar is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 12, 2015. According to the Plea Agreement, Sligar has agreed to be sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Office, and Springfield Police Department Commissioner William John Barbieri made the announcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Ortiz's Springfield Branch Office.