Arms Trafficking

Have you been accused of arms trafficking? This is a serious charge in New Hampshire and could affect you for the rest of your life.

If you have been arrested on these charges, you will need to call an experienced criminal defense lawyer to help get you out of this tremendous bind.

Think it’s not a serious charge? Think again. A recent case shows that a 42-year-old New Hampshire man was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for arms, or gun, trafficking.

The attorney general’s office said Sean Meola negotiated with an undercover federal agent for the sale of a number of firearms. He met the undercover agent at a prearranged location and sold the guns including three semi-automatic handguns and two shotguns to the agent for $1,200. Authorities later learned that the weapons had been stolen from a New Hampshire home.

Meola was a previously convicted felon in possession of firearms, which added to his crimes.

So, if you’ve been arrested on gun trafficking charges, you need to speak to your lawyer right away. Do that before you even speak to investigators about you case.

They will be asking you all kinds of questions, trying in vain to get you to say something that can be used against you when your case goes to court. The best advice is to stay silent until your legal representative is by your side. You can discuss the case with your attorney, who can advise you on what you should and should not tell investigators.

If you are a felon and get caught with guns, the penalties can be even stiffer. So, you’ll want to think about that.

The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence says that interstate firearms trafficking is so big because states regulate fire arm sales differently. And, they point out there is no federal limitation on the number of guns that a person may buy at once.

ATF statistics show that one percent of the federally licensed firearms dealers are responsible for selling about 60 percent of the guns found at crime scenes and traced to dealers.

If you would like to brush up on New Hampshire’s gun laws, check out the state statutes at RSA 159.

If you are arrested on a firearms trafficking charge, attorney Michael Anzalone will dive into the laws and stats and evidence to help you get the best possible outcome in your case. Of course he advises clients to never get involved in any kind of illegal activities in the first place. But once you are arrested, it’s best to call him right away.

It is our goal to get the best possible outcome for you, whether it means a plea deal with prosecutors or going to trial in front of a judge and a jury of your peers.

These are the kinds of charges that can alter your life in significant ways. You will probably lose your job and your reputation and that of your family will take a serious hit.

Please call us today for a free consultation with Michael Anzalone.