A man from Nashua, New Hampshire, has been arrested on charges of allegedly trafficking firearms into Massachusetts. Dennis T. Michaud, Jr., 22, faces one count of trafficking in firearms and was detained after an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. A hearing is set for March 25, 2025.
The charging documents claim that Michaud was identified as an illegal firearms dealer beginning around February 2025. Allegedly, between February 7 and February 11, undercover law enforcement contacted Michaud via Snapchat to purchase a semiautomatic rifle. Michaud purportedly offered to bring the firearm from New Hampshire to Massachusetts. On February 11, it is alleged that Michaud met with a confidential source in Pepperell and exchanged a semiautomatic rifle and magazine for $900.
Further allegations state that on February 18, Michaud agreed to sell three more firearms and met the source again in Pepperell to complete the transaction for $2,100. The firearms included a Taurus Raging Hunter revolver, a Rossi Interarms revolver, and a Walther PPS pistol with accompanying ammunition and accessories.
On February 27, Michaud allegedly agreed to sell two additional firearms: a Radical Firearms semiautomatic short-barreled rifle and a Sig Sauer pistol. During this transaction in Pepperell, he allegedly noted that possessing the rifle would result in "three felonies" due to its configuration.
On March 20 in Pepperell, Michaud reportedly sold three more firearms along with magazines and ammunition for $2,250 before being taken into custody immediately after the transaction.
Michaud does not hold a federal firearms license and is barred from possessing any firearms or ammunition due to a previous marijuana possession conviction in New Hampshire.
The charge carries penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sentences are determined by federal district court judges according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the arrest alongside James M. Ferguson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives' Boston Field Division. Support came from various police departments including Massachusetts State Police; Nashua (N.H.) Police Department; and Pepperell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez is prosecuting the case.
The details provided are allegations at this stage; Michaud is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
