Akeem Castro, 26, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, admitted in federal court to possessing an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 assault-style rifle and 34 rounds of ammunition—despite being legally barred from owning any firearm due to a prior felony conviction. The guilty plea was entered in U.S. District Court in Springfield on charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Castro confessed to selling the AM-15 for $1,800 on March 7, 2017, handing it off to a government witness in a parking lot in Chicopee. The transaction, captured as part of a federal investigation, highlights the underground gun trade that continues to fuel violence in Western Massachusetts. Authorities say Castro never had legal authority to possess the weapon at any point.
Arrested in January 2018, Castro has remained in federal custody ever since. His sentencing is set for August 8, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni. If the judge follows federal sentencing guidelines, Castro faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum of three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The AM-15, a civilian version of the military-style AR-15 platform, is frequently linked to violent crime due to its high rate of fire and magazine capacity. Its sale and possession by felons is strictly prohibited under federal law, yet cases like Castro’s expose the porous boundaries of illegal gun trafficking in urban corridors.
The investigation was jointly led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Massachusetts State Police, Springfield Police, and Holyoke Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office under the direction of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.
“Convicted felons with access to weapons like the AM-15 pose a direct threat to public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelly Brady. “This guilty plea is a reminder that illegal gun possession will be met with federal consequences.”
Related Federal Cases
- Springfield Man Mark Alexander, 26, Pleads Guilty to Felon Firearm Possession · Massachusetts
- Boston Man Rahshjeem Benson Cuffed for Gun Possession · Massachusetts
- Boston Man Cops to Illegal Gun Dealing · Massachusetts
- Boston Man Sentenced to 3+ Years for Ammunition Possession as Felon · Massachusetts
- Hyde Park Man King Belin Sentenced to 4+ Years for Loaded Firearm Possession · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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