Northampton Gun & Drug Dealer Gabriel Lebron Faces Years in Prison

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Gabriel Lebron, 35, of Northampton, is staring down a lengthy federal prison sentence after admitting to possessing both a loaded firearm and a stash of narcotics. Lebron, already a convicted felon, pleaded guilty yesterday in Springfield federal court to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin. Judge Mark G. Mastroianni has set sentencing for January 15, 2025.

The bust went down on April 9, 2024, when Hadley police responded to a 911 call reporting a man waving a gun in the lobby of the Howard Johnson hotel. Responding officers found Lebron armed with a Jimenez Arms, Model JA 25, .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with five rounds – one chambered and ready to fire. Alongside the weapon, authorities discovered ten “snap caps” of crack cocaine and two bundles of heroin. He was taken into custody immediately.

This isn’t Lebron’s first tango with the law. He was already on federal supervised release stemming from a 2023 Vermont conviction for possessing a “ghost gun” – an untraceable firearm – also with a laser sight and multiple rounds of ammunition. That crime earned him 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release, a deal he clearly didn’t learn from. This latest offense proves Lebron is a repeat offender with a blatant disregard for the law.

Federal prosecutors aren’t playing around. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a hefty $250,000 fine. Adding the drug charges to the mix elevates the stakes considerably, bringing a mandatory minimum of three years and up to 20 years behind bars, plus up to five years of supervised release and a potential $1,000,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division, announced the guilty plea. They lauded the collaborative effort of the Hadley Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police in bringing Lebron to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is handling the prosecution.

The sentencing will ultimately be determined by Judge Mastroianni, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes. But with Lebron’s history and the severity of these charges, a significant prison term is all but guaranteed. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who repeatedly endanger the public with firearms and narcotics will face the full force of federal law.