Bay State Gun Builder Gets 70-Month Sentence

CONCORD, N.H. – United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice announced that Raymond L. Blackmer, III, 52, a former Easthampton, Massachusetts resident, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Blackmer’s web of deceit unraveled when the Easthampton Police Department discovered his intention to transport homemade firearms from Massachusettes to New Hampshire. His workshop, a veritable arsenal, was found crammed with components purchased online, and nine firearms in various stages of assembly.

The fateful day began with Blackmer leaving his home with two AR-15 style rifles. Surveillance officers witnessed this, leading to a federal search warrant on his vehicle. Inside the trunk lay two fully equipped rifles and a loaded magazine.

Further investigation revealed that Blackmer’s previous convictions had made him ineligible to possess firearms. Despite these restrictions, he brazenly continued his illegal trade, ultimately leading to his downfall.

Judge Steven J. McAuliffe handed down the severe sentence, which also included a $1000 fine and three years of supervised release. Blackmer is now facing the consequences of his actions.

This case was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Easthampton Police Department, New Hampshire State Police, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Northwest District of Massachusetts. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Morse prosecuted this significant Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, aiming to reduce gun crime across America.