SPRINGFIELD, MA – Benjamin Hunter-Blake, 25, of Springfield, is facing a substantial federal prison sentence after pleading guilty Monday to a trio of firearms offenses, according to court documents. The bust reveals a dangerous stockpile of weapons and modifications, raising questions about Hunter-Blake’s intent and potential connections to other criminals.
Federal agents raided Hunter-Blake’s Springfield residence on January 27, 2023, uncovering five pistols, including a homemade “ghost gun” equipped with a “Glock switch” – a device that illegally converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machinegun. The search also yielded four additional Glock switches, a silencer, and a significant quantity of ammunition and large-capacity magazines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Evidence recovered from Hunter-Blake’s mobile phone paints a disturbing picture of a man actively involved in the acquisition and distribution of firearms, including sales to individuals already prohibited from possessing them due to prior felony convictions. This suggests Hunter-Blake wasn’t simply stockpiling for personal use, but actively fueling the illegal gun trade.
This isn’t Hunter-Blake’s first brush with the law. Court records show he’s been convicted twice previously in Massachusetts state court on firearms-related felonies. He is currently under indictment and confined to house arrest awaiting trial in a *third* state firearms case, demonstrating a clear pattern of disregard for gun laws. The ATF, along with the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police, collaborated on the investigation.
Hunter-Blake pleaded guilty to one count each of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful possession of a machinegun, and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm (the silencer). He now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars for the felon in possession charge, and 10 years each for the machinegun and silencer counts. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for July 2, 2024. As part of the plea agreement, Hunter-Blake has agreed to forfeit the Glock switches and three high-capacity magazines.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division, announced the guilty plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is leading the prosecution. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of federal and local law enforcement to stem the flow of illegal firearms and hold accountable those who endanger public safety.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Younge, Firearms Trafficking Scheme, NH 2024 · Massachusetts
- Sara Johnson, Firearms Trafficking, NH 2023 · Massachusetts
- Edwin Labaw, Felon in Possession of Firearms, MA 2017 · Massachusetts
- Lawrence A. Griffen, Jr., Unlawful Firearms Sales, VT 2024 · Vermont
- Raekwon Overstreet, Unlawful Possession of a Springfield 9mm Pistol… · Connecticut
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