A Massachusetts man was recently sentenced for the unlawful possession of firearms, resulting from his illegal dealing of rifles and handguns.
John Harry Morales, 36, of Lawrence, was sentenced Oct. 25 by U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 70 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
"Our commonwealth has strict requirements and thorough vetting processes to legally purchase, sell and carry firearms for a reason – they are dangerous and deadly weapons," U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael S. Rollins said in the news release. "Keeping illegal firearms off the street and out of the hands of prohibited individuals is at the core of combating the continued rise in violent crime we have seen across our nation."
Being a convicted felon didn't stop Morales, Rollins said, the release reported.
"Despite being a convicted felon strictly prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, Mr. Morales illegally dealt 14 firearms – including a high-powered semi-automatic rifle with two 30 round magazines – within just four short months," Rollins said, according to the release. "His conduct is alarming and each of those firearms and the ammunition have been taken off the street. Each of those bullets is a potential gun violence victim. We are committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of Massachusetts residents and removing individuals like Mr. Morales from our communities is a step in the right direction."
Morales has been in custody since his arrest in November 2019, according to the news release. Morales' sentencing followed his guilty plea in April 2021 to two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Federal prosecutors alleged Morales' illegal firearm dealing began in early 2019. Between February and May 2019, he sold 14 firearms to "a cooperating witness," the news release said. Those firearms included "pistols, concealable weapons and a high-powered SKS rifle accompanied by two 30 round magazines."
"The FBI's North Shore Gang Task Force is working with our law enforcement partners to rid our communities of illegal firearms, and whether it's through takedowns of violent gun-toting gangs or, one by one, arresting felons like Mr. Morales, a criminal in possession of 14 firearms and ammunition – including an SKS rifle – we will continue to do all we can to make our neighborhoods safer," FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta said in the release. "There is little doubt these guns would have ended up in the hands of gang members had we not obtained them, resulting in serious danger to the public."
