Juan Aparicio, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, Massachusetts 2020

Lowell, Massachusetts, man Juan Aparicio, 29, stands charged in federal court after being caught peddling assault rifles on Snapchat and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment this week, marking the latest fallout from a digital footrace between street-level dealers and federal investigators.

Aparicio is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was initially arrested June 10, 2020, and will be arraigned in U.S. District Court at a date to be determined. The charges stem from a January 6, 2020, raid on his Lowell residence, prompted by social media activity that raised red flags with law enforcement.

According to court documents, federal agents viewed Snapchat videos in which Aparicio openly advertised multiple firearms for sale. That same evening, authorities moved in. Inside his home, they seized a loaded assault rifle and a quantity of cocaine. Because Aparicio has prior convictions punishable by more than one year in prison, he is legally barred from possessing any firearms or ammunition.

If convicted, Aparicio faces up to 10 years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine on the weapons charge. The drug charge carries a steeper penalty—up to 20 years behind bars, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A federal judge will determine the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.

The case was announced by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan, and Lowell Police Superintendent Raymond Kelly Richardson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of Lelling’s Office is prosecuting the case.

This investigation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at slashing violent crime through coordinated federal, state, and local enforcement. While Aparicio’s use of Snapchat may have seemed slick, it turned into a digital paper trail leading straight to prosecution. The U.S. Department of Justice reminds the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Related Federal Cases