John Martin, 39, of Houlton, Maine, stood before a federal judge and admitted to possessing firearms he was legally barred from owning — a direct violation of federal law. His guilty plea, entered in U.S. District Court in Bangor, caps a federal investigation into his acquisition of multiple guns despite a prior domestic violence conviction.
Court records show Martin purchased three pistols and two rifles from a licensed Maine firearms dealer between October and December 2016. That alone would have been legal — but not for Martin. An April 2016 misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence assault stripped him of his right to own or handle any firearms under federal law.
Law enforcement moved in on July 26, 2017, when a search warrant was executed at Martin’s Houlton residence. Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Houlton Police Department seized one of the rifles tied to his illegal purchases.
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative targeting gun violence through coordinated local, state, and federal enforcement. PSN Maine specifically focuses on individuals with histories of domestic abuse who illegally obtain firearms — a high-risk category for repeat violent offenses.
Martin now faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is pending the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office, which will detail his criminal history and circumstances surrounding the offense.
The message from federal prosecutors is clear: possession of firearms by prohibited persons — especially those with domestic violence records — will be met with swift and serious consequences. Martin’s case underscores the federal government’s hard line on gun crimes and its commitment to enforcing laws meant to protect communities from repeat offenders.
Related Federal Cases
- Swanville Man Cuffed for Illegal Gun Possession · Maine
- Millinocket Man Sentenced to Year Plus Day for Illegal Gun Possession · Maine
- Bangor Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of Firearm · Maine
- Felony Firearm Possession Lands South Paris Man Behind Bars · Maine
- Lebanon Hunter Gets 2½ Years for Illegal Gun · Maine
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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