Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Offenses
BOSTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to firearm charges.
William Scott, 31, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with receipt and possession of unregistered firearms, making a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee, and making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required. U.S. District Court Judge Mark D. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Feb. 1, 2021.
Scott, who worked for Dark Horse Gunsmithing in South Hadley, Mass. at the time of these offenses, received and possessed a machinegun which was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by the National Firearm Act. In addition, on April 12, 2016 and July 20, 2016, Scott made a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee. Scott also made false entries in, failed to make appropriate entries in, and failed to properly maintain records as required of a federal firearms licensee.
The charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. 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 & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
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