Manchester Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Firearm Crime

            CONCORD - Sara Johnson, 36, of Manchester, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for federal firearms crimes, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson purchased a rifle in a private sale from an individual in New Hampshire sometime in 2015.  Johnson subsequently provided the rifle to an individual Johnson knew to be a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

            Johnson also purchased a pistol in 2015 in a private sale in Bow, New Hampshire.  At the time of the purchase, the pistol’s serial number was intact.  On June 9, 2016, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence.  A pistol with an obliterated serial number was found underneath a mattress.  Testing later confirmed it to be the same pistol Johnson had purchased in 2015.  Possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number is a violation of federal law.

            Johnson previously pleaded guilty on February 15, 2018.

            “Those who violate federal firearms laws jeopardize public safety and often put guns in the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Because those who provide firearms to felons increase the risk that those felons will commit violent crimes, we use Project Safe Neighborhoods and our other partnerships with law enforcement to identify and prosecute those who commit gun-related offenses.”

            “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is committed to targeting individuals who are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and have further engaged in trafficking those firearms into other criminals hands,” said Special Agent in Charge, Mickey Leadingham.

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Manchester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B.  Kelbley.

            The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes. 

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