Joshua Hooper, 36, of Manchester, is headed for federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm — a charge rooted in his 2017 sale of a Noveski Rifleworks lower receiver, authorities announced today.
Court documents reveal Hooper, already barred from owning weapons due to at least one prior felony conviction, sold the Model N4 lower receiver on July 15, 2017. The transaction set off alarm bells with federal investigators, who began building a case centered on his illegal firearms activity.
By March 23, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hooper’s Manchester residence. Inside, they uncovered a stash of ammunition and multiple firearm accessories — physical evidence that underscored a pattern of illegal gun trafficking, prosecutors say.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray wasted no words in condemning Hooper’s actions. “Armed felons are a threat to public safety,” Murray declared, emphasizing the core mission of Project Safe Neighborhoods — the federal initiative targeting gun violence through tougher enforcement and prosecution.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is handling the prosecution, taking over from Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Kelbley, who previously managed the case.
Hooper is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2019. The case falls squarely under ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federally-funded strategy combining law enforcement coordination, community outreach, and aggressive prosecution to dismantle illegal gun networks before they ignite more violence.
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Related Federal Cases
- Manchester Man Faces Up to 10 Years for Illegal Firearm Possession · New Hampshire
- Marcos Nieves Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · New Hampshire
- Raheem Nigge Taylor Gets 36 Months for Illegal Gun Possession · New Hampshire
- Manchester Man Taylor Gets 3 Years for Illegal Guns · New Hampshire
- Portsmouth Felon Sentenced to Up to 15 Years for Firearm Possession · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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