Nashua Man Indicted for Straw Purchasing Firearms

CONCORD – A Nashua man appeared in federal court, after being indicted on firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Mikell Baez, 25, was indicted on November 15, 2023 with six counts of making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm. Baez made an initial appearance in federal court on December 19, 2023, and was released on conditions.

According to the charging document, on six separate occasions between August 3, 2021 and November 5, 2021, Mr. Baez straw purchased eight guns for someone else.  He bought the guns from federally licensed firearms dealers in Merrimack, Hudson and Amherst, New Hampshire.  Mr. Baez lied on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form for the purchases when he said he was the actual buyer/transferee of each firearm. 

The charges provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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