Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Tyler J. Hughes, 25, of California and formerly a Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard stationed in Massachusetts, was sentenced to time served for making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Hughes also agreed to forfeit five firearms and ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on three separate occasions: January 20, 2017, October 22, 2017 and November 21, 2017, Hughes purchased a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in New Hampshire. During each purchase, Hughes completed ATF Form 4473 and falsely claimed that he lived in New Hampshire in order to purchase the firearms. Hughes never lived in New Hampshire.

Hughes previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm on July 10, 2018.

"As part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, we work with our law enforcement partners to enforce our nation’s gun laws," said U.S. Attorney Murray. "By enforcing our gun laws and taking other steps to prevent violent crime, we will improve public safety for all of our citizens."

The matter was investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the New Hampshire State Police DMV Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Debra M. Walsh prosecuted the case.

The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.

###