In a shocking turn of events, Joel Polanco, a 34-year-old Fitchburg man, was sentenced to 80 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a 10 mm Glock pistol. The firearm was used to shoot a victim in a brutal attack.
According to authorities, Polanco pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in April 2022. This charge stems from an incident in October 2020, where police responded to a report of a person suffering a gunshot wound to the leg in the area of Snow and Cherry Streets in Fitchburg.
Witnesses reported seeing a person fitting Polanco’s description shoot the victim, and surveillance videos captured a person matching his description carrying a black fanny-pack and holding what appeared to be a gun. The 10 mm Glock pistol used in the attack was later recovered from a black fanny-pack in the area of Snow Street.
Polanco is prohibited from possessing a firearm after being convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition and distribution of cocaine base in March 2011. This latest conviction is a stark reminder of the dangers of illegal gun possession and the devastating consequences that can follow.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, and Fitchburg Police Chief Ernst Martineau made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Danial E. Bennett of Levy’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities across the country. The program brings together all levels of law enforcement and community organizations to foster trust, support prevention efforts, and set strategic enforcement priorities.
Polanco’s sentence serves as a warning to those who would engage in similar behavior. The consequences of illegal gun possession can be severe and long-lasting, and law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.
Related Federal Cases
- Thaddeus Southall, Possession of Firearm by Felon, Waterloo IA, 2012 · Iowa
- Mark Harken Sentenced to 9 Years for Felon in Possession of Firearm… · Iowa
- Boston Man Victor Florentino Sentenced to 2+ Years for Felon in Possession of Firearm · Massachusetts
- Daniel Campbell Sentenced to 8+ Years for Possession of a Firearm b… · Iowa
- Felon Tevin Abercrombie Sentenced to 78 Months for Gun Possession · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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