Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A Hyannis resident has admitted guilt in a federal court in Boston for unlawfully possessing a Chinese SKS .762 caliber rifle. Donnell Pina, aged 52, entered his guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young. The sentencing is set for June 4, 2025.
Pina and his co-defendant Ryan Diefenbach were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022 for the same offense. In September 2021, both individuals were found with the Chinese SKS .762 caliber rifle despite their felony convictions prohibiting them from having firearms.
In October 2024, Diefenbach received a sentence of six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The charge carries potential penalties including up to ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives' Boston Field Division announced the plea today. Assistant United States Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum is handling the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and other violent crimes through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department introduced a strategy to enhance PSN by focusing on trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
