Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CONCORD - Thomas S. Harris, 27, of North Haverhill, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Harris is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. On August 25, 2016, Harris sold a Savage Arms, model 18-F, .410 caliber shotgun to a pawn shop in Lisbon, New Hampshire. On September 27, 2016, Harris sold a Keystone Sporting Arms, model Cricket, .22 caliber rifle at the same pawn shop.

Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2018

“In order to keep our community safe from violence, we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Through the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our citizens from violent crime and gun-related offenses.”

“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates ATF’s commitment to targeting prohibited individuals from possessing and trafficking in firearms,’” said Lawrence Panetta, ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division. “ATF will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to eliminate these type of crimes and remove firearms from illegal commerce.”

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.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, the Lisbon Police Department, Bath Police Department and the Haverhill Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh.

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