CONCORD - Damon Austin, 37, of Somersworth, was sentenced on Tuesday to 84 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 14, 2018, Austin was involved in an altercation with another individual in Somersworth in which Austin threatened the individual with a firearm. Soon after the altercation, Somersworth Police arrested Austin while he was in possession of the firearm. Police subsequently obtained a warrant to search Austin’s residence. A search of Austin’s residence resulted in the seizure of six additional firearms, as well as cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Austin, as a previously convicted felon, is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
Austin previously pleaded guilty on Jan. 31, 2019.
“In order to ensure public safety, we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals," said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify criminals who pose a threat to the community. Thanks to the excellent work of the Somersworth Police Department, this convicted felon will not be able to use these seven firearms to commit acts of violence or further endanger our citizens."
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Somersworth Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
