Joan Rosado Maldonado, Unlawful Firearm Possession, Massachusetts 2024

A Worcester man was caught red-handed in a brazen display of gun violence in the early hours of September 10, 2021. Joan Rosado Maldonado, 43, was sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

At approximately midnight, law enforcement officers observed Rosado Maldonado standing outside a high-rise apartment building on Main Street in Worcester, directly across from the federal courthouse. Witnesses claim he raised his arm to the sky and fired a shot, prompting officers to immediately turn around and apprehend him as he attempted to enter an elevator.

During a subsequent search of Rosado Maldonado’s person, he was found to be in possession of a semi-automatic .40 caliber pistol with its serial number removed, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. The spent casing from the shooting was found on the street outside of the apartment building.

Rosado Maldonado’s history of violence and prior convictions make him a prohibited individual from possessing firearms and ammunition. His rap sheet includes multiple convictions of crimes punishable by more than one year in prison, including armed assault to murder, assault and battery by dangerous weapon, and cocaine trafficking.

U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, and Paul B. Saucier, Interim Chief of the Worcester Police Department, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto, Chief of the Worcester Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

Rosado Maldonado was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman on March 2024. The defendant was also ordered to forfeit a firearm and ammunition. This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.

As the people of Worcester demand justice and safety, it is imperative that we continue to crack down on gun crime and hold perpetrators accountable. In this case, Joan Rosado Maldonado’s sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the importance of keeping our communities safe.

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