Justin F. Watson, Straw Purchase of Firearms, Massachusetts 2019

BOSTON, Massachusetts – A former Campus Police Dispatcher for Cape Cod Community College Police pleaded guilty to straw purchase of firearms in a federal court in Boston.

Justin F. Watson, 36, of Mashpee, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements during the purchase of firearms and one count of making false statements in a record.

Watson was an Institutional Security Officer/Campus Police Dispatcher with the Cape Cod Community College Police from March 2018 to February 2019. However, he neither carried a weapon nor had the power to make arrests on campus.

Watson ordered a Glock pistol to be delivered to a firearms dealer on Cape Cod. On Aug. 26, 2018, Watson went to the firearms dealer to pick up the Glock, Model 22, GEN4, .40 caliber pistol. Before receiving the firearm, Watson provided his Cape Cod Community College identification card, which listed him as “Campus Police” and “Faculty/Staff,” to the manager and completed a Public Safety Purchase Form identifying himself as an Institutional Security Officer.

Watson called another firearms dealer and spoke with the store’s operator, who informed him that only law enforcement officers with the power to conduct arrests could purchase Glock Model 26 firearms. Watson said he was a police officer with authority to make arrests. On Nov. 17, 2018, Watson went to the firearms dealer with his girlfriend, Angel Ecker, and spoke with a sales manager. Ecker allegedly told the sales manager that she was Watson’s boss and that Watson had authority to make arrests.

Watson identified himself as a police officer to the sales manager and then purchased a Glock, Model 26, GEN4, 9mm pistol for $425. Watson completed a required ATF Form and affirmed that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. The form warned that, “If you are not the actual buyer, the dealer cannot transfer the firearm(s) to you.”

Watson transferred the Glock Model 26 to Ecker on Dec. 19, 2018. During an interview with law enforcement, Watson acknowledged that he used his Cape Cod Community College identification card when he purchased both Glock firearms. He stated he used that ID because he did not think he could purchase the firearms without it.

The charge of making false statements during the purchase of firearms provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making false statements in a record also provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 1, 2022.

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