Brockton Man Charged with Gun Offense After Police Find Cobra Pistol with Obliterated Serial Number
A Brockton man has been indicted on a federal firearms charge after police found him in possession of a Cobra .380 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number and three rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. Dennis Afonso, 33, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The discovery was made on May 3, 2017, by law enforcement officers in Brockton. Afonso had previously been convicted of distribution of cocaine base in 2009 and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. He had recently completed his period of supervised release when the firearm was found.
The 2009 conviction was the result of a federal investigation into drug trafficking and related gang activity in the Green Street area of Brockton. During the investigation, an undercover officer made dozens of controlled purchases of cocaine base from dealers, including Afonso. The Green Street gang, of which Afonso was a member, was found to have ties to rival gangs in the south side of the city.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The sentence will be imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Aiding in the investigation were Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb, Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, and Brockton Police Chief John Crowley. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn A. MacKinlay is prosecuting the case.
Afonso is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The details contained in the indictment are allegations.
Defendant: Dennis Afonso
Criminal Charge: Being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition
City and State: Brockton, Massachusetts
Exact Date: May 3, 2017
Sentence: Mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000
Dollar Amount: $250,000
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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