Daniel Musso, 56, of Brentwood, was found guilty Friday on four counts of receiving and possessing unregistered firearms—specifically, fragmentation grenades—and one count of receiving explosive material, following a week-long federal jury trial in Concord. The verdict marks the first federal jury conviction in New Hampshire since courtroom operations were suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
According to trial evidence, Musso began seeking military-grade weapons and explosives in the summer of 2015. After expressing his desire to obtain hand grenades to a firearms dealer, the FBI deployed an undercover agent posing as an arms supplier. In two meetings in January 2016, Musso confirmed his intent to acquire illegal military hardware, claiming he was part of a group aiming to ‘take our country back’ and reinstate the ‘original constitution.’
On January 27, 2016, Musso was arrested in Seabrook after purchasing four live military hand grenades from the undercover agent. Though the FBI had disabled the fuses for safety, Musso argued the devices weren’t destructive and thus not subject to registration under the National Firearms Act. A district judge initially agreed, but the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision, allowing the prosecution to proceed to trial.
Hand grenades are classified as destructive devices under federal law and must be registered. Possession without registration carries severe penalties. Musso was taken into custody immediately after the jury returned its verdict. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray praised the jury for fulfilling their civic duty during a public health crisis. ‘The defendant’s frightening efforts to obtain military hand grenades posed a substantial risk to public safety,’ Murray said. ‘Thanks to the excellent investigative work of the FBI, this dangerous scheme was thwarted.’
FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta emphasized the role of public vigilance: ‘If it were not for the concerned citizen who came forward to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, these deadly weapons could have ended up in the wrong hands.’ ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelly D. Brady added that the arrest highlights the interagency commitment to stopping the flow of weapons designed for extreme violence.”
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Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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