Angel Vargas, Jr., Machinegun Possession, Massachusetts 2024

A Springfield man was sentenced to over two years in prison for possessing a machinegun in violation of federal law.

Angel Vargas, Jr., 32, was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a machinegun. Vargas pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2024.

The conviction stems from a search of Vargas's Springfield residence on January 27, 2023. During the search, law enforcement seized a ghost gun with an attached Glock switch, laser sight, and extended magazine containing 23 rounds of ammunition.

Additionally, authorities discovered three other firearms: a semi-automatic rifle with an extended magazine containing 22 rounds, a 12-gauge shotgun with five rounds, and a semi-automatic pistol with a third extended magazine containing 15 rounds.

Vargas's mobile phone was also seized, which contained evidence that he had been trafficking other firearms, including Glock switches, after a state felony conviction and while on pretrial release for a state firearms case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, announced the sentencing. Valuable assistance was provided by the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/springfield-man-sentenced-over-two-years-prison-illegal-possession-machinegun