Ex-Boston Cop Accused of Arming Gang Member

BOSTON – A former Boston Police Officer is in hot water, accused of playing a dangerous game with firearms. Adarbaad Karani, 37, of West Roxbury, was arrested today and indicted on charges stemming from the illegal purchase of two handguns on behalf of individuals who weren’t legally authorized to own them.

The indictment alleges that Karani, who resigned from the Boston Police Department back in November 2016, acted as a “straw purchaser” in both November 2014 and September 2015. He allegedly bought a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol and a Glock, model 30S, .45 caliber pistol, falsely claiming on federal forms that the weapons were for official police use – and not for resale. The feds say Karani used his police ID to bypass restrictions that would have prevented the guns from being legally obtained by his acquaintances.

This isn’t just about paperwork. One of those weapons, the .45 caliber Glock, ended up in the hands of Desmond Crawford, identified as an alleged member of the notorious Columbia Point Dawgs gang. Crawford was busted with the gun in November 2015, raising serious questions about how easily firearms can fall into the wrong hands through these kinds of schemes.

Federal prosecutors are hitting Karani with two counts each of making false statements during the purchase of firearms and making false statements in a record. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a hefty $250,000 fine. While the maximum penalties are steep, actual sentences are typically determined by a federal judge considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb, alongside Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, and Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans, announced the charges today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris is leading the prosecution for the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit.

It’s crucial to remember that these are just allegations at this stage. Karani is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. But if convicted, this case will serve as a stark reminder that even those sworn to uphold the law can betray the public trust – and that illegally funneling guns onto the streets has serious consequences.