Former Portsmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

CONCORD – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Joshua Linane, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2024.

On October 14, 2022, Linane sold a Ruger Speed-Six .357 Magnum revolver to a confidential source.  At the time, Linane was a convicted felon.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives provided substantial assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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