Daniel Whitman, Bank Fraud, Massachusetts 2021

BOSTON – In a shocking turn of events, Daniel Whitman, a 37-year-old former Tyngsborough police officer, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including bank fraud and violations of the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Whitman, who was arrested in January 2021 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2021, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. He also faces an additional 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000 for the NFA charges.

Whitman, who was the owner and principal manager of Hitman Firearms, LLC, a retail gun shop in Tyngsborough, was accused of hiding the true source of funding for a large indoor shooting range project from federally insured financial institutions. He also allegedly filed false documents in connection with their loan applications.

In addition, Whitman was accused of knowingly making, possessing, and transferring firearms that had been modified by the addition of stocks and short barrels, resulting in their classification as short-barreled rifles (SBR) under the NFA. These SBRs were not properly registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by the NFA, nor did Whitman pay the applicable taxes or fulfill other requirements under the NFA.

Whitman’s co-conspirator, Bin Lu, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in June 2021. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins, along with several other law enforcement officials, announced the charges against Whitman. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugenia M. Carris, Christine J. Wichers, and Evan D. Panich are prosecuting the case.

Whitman’s sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2023. The Tyngsborough and Westford Police Departments provided special assistance in this case.

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