Richard Philippe, Firearms Trafficking, Massachusetts 2019

BOSTON - A brazen firearms trafficking operation was brought to a halt yesterday with the arrest of Attleboro man Richard Philippe, 40, on a federal charge. Philippe, accused of being a felon in possession of ammunition, has been in custody since July 5, 2019.

According to the charging documents, an individual from Georgia was purchasing large quantities of handguns, which were then transported to Massachusetts by Philippe to be sold. Philippe, however, was not a licensed firearms dealer and had a prior felony conviction, making it illegal for him to possess any firearm or ammunition. The individual in Georgia allegedly sold over 100 firearms to Philippe between April and June 2019.

Federal agents executed a search warrant at a warehouse in Taunton used by Philippe and discovered 144 rounds of ammunition and empty firearm boxes with labels linking them to the firearms purchased by the individual in Georgia. Philippe's actions have put him in the crosshairs of federal authorities, who are seeking to bring him to justice for his alleged crimes.

Philippe is facing a charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation into Philippe's activities was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Brockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations, and Philippe is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of firearms trafficking and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

Philippe, a resident of Attleboro, Massachusetts, is currently in custody. His case is a prime example of the federal government's commitment to combating firearms trafficking and ensuring public safety.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/attleboro-man-who-trafficked-handguns-georgia-massachusetts-arrested-federal-charge