BOSTON, MA – Victor Florentino, 27, of Boston, has admitted to being a prohibited person illegally carrying a loaded handgun. Florentino pleaded guilty today to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, a charge stemming from a traffic stop last year.
The bust went down in April 2022 when Quincy Police pulled Florentino over. A search of the vehicle revealed a Glock 9mm pistol and a magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition. This wasn’t Florentino’s first brush with the law concerning firearms; he was previously convicted in 2016 for firearms trafficking, a conviction that permanently stripped him of the right to own or possess weapons.
Federal prosecutors didn’t waste any time. A grand jury indicted Florentino in August 2022, and the case has moved swiftly through the system. U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy’s office handled the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley leading the charge from the Organized Crime & Gang Unit.
Florentino now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years behind bars, along with three years of supervised release after his prison term, and a hefty $250,000 fine. However, the final decision rests with U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris, who has scheduled sentencing for April 11, 2024. The sentence will be determined based on federal sentencing guidelines and applicable statutes.
The ATF’s Boston Field Division, led by Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson, played a key role in the investigation alongside the Quincy Police Department, headed by Chief Paul Keenan. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bolstering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.
The PSN program, relaunched in 2021, focuses on building trust with communities, supporting violence prevention groups, prioritizing enforcement efforts, and rigorously measuring results. While officials tout the program’s goals, the case of Victor Florentino demonstrates a continued, aggressive pursuit of individuals illegally possessing firearms, regardless of prior convictions. The outcome of his sentencing will send a clear message about the consequences of flouting gun laws in Massachusetts.
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