Massachusetts Man Faces 10 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearms

A 27-year-old Woburn, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms after a string of arrests and a failed firearm sale, federal authorities announced.

Sauma Brata Deb was arrested on five separate occasions in either New Hampshire or Massachusetts between March 6, 2020, and November 16, 2020, with drugs or drug-use paraphernalia recovered each time, according to court records. On January 29, 2021, he attempted to sell a firearm to the Kittery Trading Post in Maine, but was arrested and found with two firearms and additional drug-use paraphernalia in his car.

It is against federal law for unlawful users of drugs to possess firearms, making Deb’s actions a serious offense. He now faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with a federal district court judge to determine his sentence after a presentence investigation report is completed by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Maine and New Hampshire offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kittery Police Department as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify and address violent crime problems in local communities. The initiative is customized to account for local resources and violent crime problems, with a focus on community engagement, prevention and intervention, enforcement, and accountability.

Deb’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement in their efforts to keep communities safe from violent crime. The case serves as a reminder of the severe consequences for those who break federal laws and pose a risk to public safety.

As the investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with local law enforcement agencies to identify and hold accountable those who engage in violent and drug-related crimes.