Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Hector Velez, 23, of Manchester, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 30, 2017, Manchester Police stopped a car driven by Velez. Upon seeing what appeared to be drugs in plain view inside the car, the officers impounded the car and applied for a search warrant. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of two firearms, as well as marijuana and cocaine. Velez, as a previously convicted felon, is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

"Federal firearms laws are designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals," said U.S. Attorney Murray. "By enforcing these laws, we seek to prevent felons from using guns to commit crimes. Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, law enforcement officers throughout the Granite State are working together to protect the public from armed criminals. This case is another example of the important progress that we are making to improve the safety of our communities."

"Today’s sentencing demonstrates the outstanding partnership between ATF and the Manchester Police Department as well as the commitment we share to work together to interdict illegal firearms and the criminals that compromise the safety of our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Brady of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.

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.

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