A Florida man, Joshua Pavao, who often stayed in Coventry, Rhode Island, admitted to possessing illegal firearms. Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced that Pavao pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to charges of possession of a machine gun and an unregistered firearm. The firearm was modified into a machine gun with a barrel length below the legal requirement.
In December 2023, East Providence Police pursued Pavao in a high-speed chase after investigating reports of gunfire. The chase ended with multiple crashes and Pavao's arrest after he attempted to flee on foot. Officers found three loaded firearms, ammunition, and pistol magazines inside his vehicle and nearby.
Following his arrest, law enforcement searched a duffle bag belonging to Pavao at his Coventry residence. They seized eight long guns from the bag, four equipped with devices converting them into machine guns.
Pavao is set for sentencing on June 5, 2025. A federal district judge will determine the sentence considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly Jr. is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by East Providence Police with help from Coventry Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on building trust within communities and supporting violence prevention efforts.
