Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Dorchester resident has been arrested and charged with firearms trafficking, according to federal authorities. Joshua Morency, 28, faces one count of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of possessing a machinegun. He was taken into custody on November 12, 2025, and is being held until a detention hearing scheduled for November 19.
Charging documents indicate that federal and state law enforcement began investigating Morency in August 2025 for the alleged illegal distribution of firearms in the Boston area. During the investigation, officials say Morency sold 21 firearms during undercover controlled purchases. Most of these weapons were reportedly 3D-printed "ghost guns," which are privately made and lack serial numbers.
The charge of dealing in firearms without a license carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and up to $250,000 in fines. Possession of a machinegun could result in up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and another $250,000 fine. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge following U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges along with Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division; and Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. The Boston Police Department as well as sheriff's offices from Suffolk County and Plymouth County assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra W. Amrhein and Anne Paruti from the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting.
"This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022," according to officials involved with the announcement. "The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms."
Authorities emphasize that all details outlined are allegations at this stage: "The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
