Laconia Man Sentenced for 87 Months for Firearms Offenses

CONCORD – Joshua McLean, a 39-year-old Laconia man, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for firearms offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announced.

McLean was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 87 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. The sentence comes after McLean pleaded guilty in March 2025 to three counts of possession of firearms and ammunitions by a prohibited person and two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm.

At the time of his arrest, McLean was a convicted felon and was prohibited from owning any firearms. However, he chose to surround himself with unregistered and illegal deadly weapons, said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack.

“As a convicted felon, the defendant was prohibited from owning any firearms, yet he chose to surround himself with unregistered and illegal deadly weapons,” McCormack said. “His drug trafficking activity only deepened the threat he posed. This case underscores our commitment to removing armed, prohibited individuals from our communities before they can do greater harm.”

The investigation into McLean’s activities revealed that he sold six firearms to an undercover officer, knowing that some had obliterated serial numbers, and one was a sawed-off shotgun. When law enforcement searched his home, they found another gun, ammunition, and distribution quantities of illegal drugs.

McLean was legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based on a previous felony drug conviction.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force led the investigation, with valuable assistance from the Laconia, Manchester, and Tilton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski prosecuted the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating that the sentence imposed reflects the severity of McLean’s actions.

“The sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the offense,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Riordan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s Boston Division. “The defendant’s possession of firearms while trafficking drugs jeopardizes public safety and is compounded by the trafficking of firearms with obliterated serial numbers which only serve illicit purposes.”

McLean’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in firearms offenses, particularly for those who have been previously convicted of a felony.