Illegal Weapons Possession

October 28, 2008

Massachusetts Police Find Guns, Drugs And Explosives In Pre-Halloween Visit

We continue our Halloween-themed week of daily blogs, which will culminate with Friday’s subject of today’s witch-trials, with a frightening tale of unwanted visitors, illegal treats, and a resulting trick.

It was last Thursday night in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Approximately 8:30 pm. One week and a day before Halloween night. 22-year-old David W (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was spending what he believed would be a quiet night in his home. Alone. His alleged treats surrounded him in his happy little piece of heaven as he settled in for the evening.

Outside, it was a calm night. Very little wind. Temperatures in the 30’s.

And then it happened.

The calm, both inside and out, became thing of the past.

One week later, it might have been various masked monsters who descended upon the house. Not tonight, though. Not ghosts, witches or goblins, either. Tonight, the most feared intruders of all for the Defendant…The Police
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October 27, 2008

Just Outside Massachusetts, Halloween-Style Robbery Starts Early

by Altman & Altman

As I travel between our offices in Boston, Cambridge and Salem, I see that the Halloween festivities have begun; each day I notice more and more early revelers prancing around in costume, acting nonchalant and trying to pretend that they always dress that way.

They don’t fool me…but I will return the favor and keep this week’s daily blogs on a Halloween theme. It will culminate with Friday’s blog which will examine whether “witch-hunts” still exist today.

Unfortunately, if the various originally-clad pedestrians believe they are amongst the earliest to so stride, they are too late.

One of the loyal readers to this daily blog has brought my attention to an event dating back to July in which, it would appear New Hampshire resident, James C., 49, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) got a really early start at wearing his costume. Rather than treats, however, he got a trip to the courthouse and charges of robbery.

He was dressed as a tree.

Just as the local Citizen Bank branch opened on a July Saturday morning, the Defendant walked in with leafy boughs duct-taped to his head and torso. Figuring he could never be identified by either teller or camera because of his very local foliage, he robbed the place.
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October 16, 2008

North Of Boston, A Robbery Victim Gets Lucky

by Altman & Altman

Here is a cautionary tale out of Lynn, Massachusetts, that could have ended much differently.

On Monday night, shortly after 10:00pm, Jackeline H., 26, of Haverhill, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”), earned the Commonwealth’s Bracelets of Shame after an alleged robbery.

According to the police, a certain unnamed gentleman (hereinafter, “Mr. Unnamed”) had just dropped off his girlfriend at her home and was now sitting in his car on Lewis Street, perhaps lost in thoughts of a lovely romantic evening, with a pile of cash just lying in the center console. $240 in cash to be exact.

Suddenly, according to the police, the Defendant suddenly appeared out of nowhere and jumped into the “Car o’ Cash”. She asked the driver if he wanted to buy a pair of sunglasses.

He answered “No”

At that point, the Defendant took the more direct approach and allegedly grabbed the money and jumped out of the car.

Mr. Unnamed, then, followed her down the street demanding his money back. This continued until the Defendant allegedly said she had a screw driver and, “Don’t come any closer or I’ll stab you,” according to a police report.
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September 26, 2008

Massachusetts Assault Defendant Goes Criminal Justice AWOL

by Altman & Altman

Almost everyone necessary showed up in the Hampden Superior Court in Springfield the other day. The jury was ready for the reading of the verdict. Judge McDonald was there. Assistant District Attorney Morse was in the courtroom. Defense attorney Stamm was sitting, albeit lonely, at her seat. Only one thing was missing.

38 year old Gerry H, also known as the Defendant, was gone.

He had been present for the trial, final arguments and instructions to the jury. Perhaps not coincidently that means he was the there to hear that he was facing a 20-year minimum mandatory sentence. His faith in the outcome was apparently justified…the jury found him guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, home invasion and threat to commit a crime.

September 11, 2008

Drug Busts Make This A Bad Week For Marihuana and Heroin Trade South and West Of Boston

by Altman & Altman

It has been a bad week so far for Massachusetts drug conspiracies. First, members of a joint Anti-Crime Task force confiscated 500 pounds of marijuana and more than $180,000 in cash from a weekend drug bust in Swansea, Massachusetts. The marijuana alone has a street value of more than $600,000. Then, in Holyoke, an Easthampton man and four Holyoke men were arrested Tuesday on charges including possession of heroin and possession of a loaded firearm.

After a month long investigation and 24-hour surveillance, John C. Mendonca, 38, of Fall River, who had been living at an East Providence hotel, was pulled over Saturday by an East Providence police officer. A search of his vehicle found prescription drugs, several cell phones and a box containing a large amount of cash. Search warrants were taken out for four of Mendonca’s known haunts, including two locations in East Providence and two in Fall River. The searches revealed a 2001 Dodge Caravan with 500 pounds of marijuana, a money counting machine believed to be tied to Mendonca’s alleged drug operation, 10 cell phones and a potpourri of additional drugs.

Mendonca is currently on federal probation from a 2002 drug bust. Swansea Deputy Police Chief Robert Furtado said police believe there were two men involved in Mendonca’s drug operation, but no one else has been charged. Furtado said because Mendonca was on federal probation, federal marijuana trafficking charges are being sought. Furtado also said that this was the biggest drug bust he said he has seen in more than three decades on the force .

September 9, 2008

Lynn Man Enters Fray And Faces Attempted Murder Charges

by Altman & Altman

According to today’s Lynn Item, Carmet Cruthird of Lynn was arraigned Friday on attempted murder charges after he allegedly stabbed a man outside a Liberty Street apartment building the day before. However, the circumstances appear a bit sketchy and are likely to not be resolved until the time of trial…which usually takes about a year.

Mr. Cruthird, a gentleman of 60 years, is said to have been involved in some kind of brawl which resulted in a stabbing. Gerald Nason, also of Lynn and 22 years of age, was the recipient of the knife’s blade. However, while law enforcement has labeled him the “victim” of this story, the facts leading up to the stabbing are apparently blurred. For example, one witness said that Cruthird was actually the one being assaulted by a small group of men when he pulled out a knife in self-defense. Other witnesses said that Nason was trying to break up a fight involving Cruthird and another person when he was stabbed.

Everybody seems to agree that the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. outside of Cruthird’s apartment building.

February 22, 2008

Massachusetts Man is Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Transport Guns

by Altman & Altman

Nguyen Van Nguyen, a Randolph, Massachusetts man, and his brother-in law Chien Dinh Nguyen will serve time in federal prison for their conspiracy to transport guns conviction.

The two men illegally bought guns from a Georgia pawn shop in Georgia and then transported them to Boston. One firearm was discovered at the scene of a 2006 Dorchester gang shootout. Nguyen and Nguyen paid a third man $100 for each gun.

The two brothers bought 23 firearms. These guns can sell for $900 or more in Massachusetts.

A Bureau of Alcohol agent from the Boston field office said the two men made money by supplying weapons to gang members. Boston investigators, who have been trying to combat gun violence in Massachusetts, testified at the brothers’ trial in Atlanta.

The man who purchased the guns for the two brothers consented to becoming a “cooperating suspect.” He recorded phone calls with the two men. He also wore a body wire during one trip to the pawn shop with Van Nguyen. The cooperating suspect pled guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms. He is serving five years probation.

A Georgia judge sentenced Nguyen Van Nguyen to 16 years in federal prison. This is not Nguyen Van Nguyen’s first brush with the law. He has been convicted for felonies three times in the past for assault with intent to rob, heroin possession, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Because of his criminal record, Van Nguyen was facing a mandatory 15-year prison term. Under Federal law, his criminal record categorizes him as an armed career criminal.

Chien Dinh Nguyen’s prison sentence is for 2 ½ years.

According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Massachusetts has some of the toughest gun laws in the United States.

Two men sentenced for trade in guns, Boston.com, February 22, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Brady Campaign praises Massachusetts gun laws, Metrowestdailynews.com, February 1, 2008
2004 Federal Sentencing Guidelines, USSC.gov
Massachusetts Law About Weapons
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February 12, 2008

Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Five Years in Jail for Involuntary Manslaughter of Friend

by Altman & Altman

In Suffolk Superior Court yesterday, Enrique Baez pled guilty to the shooting death of Cheyenne Baez. Judge Margaret Hinkle sentenced him to five years in Suffolk County House of Correction. 2.5 years of the sentence is for involuntary manslaughter, 6 months is for marijuana possession, and the remaining two years is for the illegal possession of two handguns. Enrique and Cheyenne were not related, but they were friends.

According to Boston police and investigators, Enrique, Cheyenne, and two other males were in Enrique’s apartment in Jamaica Planes on April 8, 2007. Enrique, 17-years-old at the time, had two guns. One of them was loaded, the other one wasn’t. While playing with the loaded gun, it went off. The bullet hit Cheyenne in the eye and killed him.

While on the stand, Enrique apologized for the murder and claimed that the shooting was an accident. Relatives of Cheyenne have expressed outrage at the five-year sentence, claiming that his death was murder and not an accident.

Judge Hinkle, Suffolk Assistant District Attorney John E. Powers III, and Boston police, however, are all in agreement that the evidence showed that the shooting was accidental.

Enrique had initially been charged with manslaughter. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Relatives of victim decry jail sentence, Boston.com, February 12, 2008
Teen charged with manslaughter after friend is shot, Boston.com, April 10, 2007
Related Web Resources:

Massachusetts Law about Guns and Other Weapons

Massachusetts Homicide Law
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