Springfield Man Sentenced For Possessing Firearms And Ammunition After Felony Conviction

BOSTON - A Springfield man was sentenced today for possessing firearms and ammunition while under felony indictment.

Manuel Lora, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Patty B. Saris to 40 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release with the special conditions that he avoid the members the Almighty Latin Kings and Eastern Avenue Posse street gangs. In September 2012, Lora pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition while under felony indictment.

On May 28, 2011, at a shooting range in Springfield, Lora fired a variety of pistols and ammunition, all of which had traveled in interstate commerce. Lora, who had been previously convicted of distributing narcotics, gained access to the shooting range by falsely certifying that he had not been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in jail. In addition, Lora was facing pending felony charges for possession with intent to distribute a class B controlled substance near a school zone or park
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Guy Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Boston Field Division; Mark Mastroianni, Hampden County District Attorney; and Commissioner William Fitchett of the Springfield Police Department, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Ortiz=s Springfield Branch Office.