CONCORD, N.H. - James Diaz, 36, previously of Manchester, NH, was sentenced in federal court to 70 months in prison for firearms and narcotics offenses, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Diaz’s residence in Manchester on Feb. 16, 2017, leading to the recovery of a previously stolen CZ 75, 9mm handgun. Diaz is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm as a result of a prior felony conviction. Controlled substances, including approximately 18 grams of fentanyl and 100 grams of cocaine, approximately $3,000 in U.S. currency, and unrelated ammunition were also seized from Diaz’s residence. As part of his plea agreement, Diaz additionally admitted to the possession of five other firearms and assorted ammunition which were not in his apartment during the search warrant, but were later turned over to law enforcement.
Diaz, who previously pleaded guilty on July 26, 2017, will serve three years of supervised release following his release from federal prison.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Manchester Police Department. 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
