Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BOSTON – A Boston man was charged in federal court in Boston yesterday in connection with the unlicensed transportation of a firearm. 

Kenny Romero, 24, was charged with one count of unlicensed transportation of firearms. Romero was arrested on Tuesday night and appeared in federal court in Boston yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, who issued a voluntary order of detention.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers discovered Romero to be in possession of a firearm during a vehicle stop in December 2016. Subsequent investigation revealed that the firearm, which had allegedly been used in a shooting earlier that month, was purchased in Virginia in November 2016. Federal agents learned that another individual purchased the firearm at Romero’s direction, and Romero subsequently transported the firearm from Virginia back to Massachusetts, where he resides.

The charge of unlicensed transportation of firearms provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the ATF - Falls Church Field Office, and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.  

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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