Zachary Zella, Firearms Offenses, Massachusetts 2022

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Table of Contents

Two Convicted Felons Arrested for Firearms Offenses

Zachary Zella, 29, of Dudley, Massachusetts, and Mickie Simmons, 31, of Brookfield, Massachusetts, were arrested on May 25, 2022, on one count each of being a felon in possession of ammunition and dealing firearms without a license.

The defendants were detained following initial appearances in federal court in Worcester on May 26, 2022. A detention hearing for Zella is scheduled for June 8, 2022, before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessey.

According to the charging documents, on three separate occasions between March and May 2022, the defendants sold a confidential source four 9mm ghost gun pistols – one of which contained a Gamo laser sight – six magazines and 55 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

During a later search of Simmons’ residence, authorities seized at least five ghost guns, including an AR-15 short-barrel rifle, and 15 ghost gun kits, numerous rounds of ammunition, components of assault-style rifles, several other firearms and more than $25,000 in cash. Additional ammunition was seized from Zella’s residence.

Zella was convicted in Dudley and Worcester District Courts on drug charges in 2016 and 2017, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison. Simmons was convicted in Dudley District Court of breaking and entering, larceny and conspiracy in 2014, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to a $250,000. The charge of dealing firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to a $250,000.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins stated, ‘Preventing the illegal trafficking of firearms, and specifically ghost guns, helps protect the safety of Massachusetts residents by addressing this real and present danger at its source.’