Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BOSTON – A Worcester man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for lying to firearm dealers in connection with his purchase of seven guns.

Ruben Ramos, 23, was indicted on five counts of knowingly making false statements to federally licensed firearm dealers. Ramos was previously charged by complaint in July 2018. 

According to charging documents, Ramos, who was licensed in Massachusetts to possess a firearm, purchased 16 guns between May 2017 and May 2018. On at least five occasions – during which he purchased seven firearms – Ramos provided a false address to the federally licensed firearm dealer. When agents interviewed Ramos in June 2018 about his purchase of a large number of guns over a short period, Ramos was unable to account for nine of the 16 guns, first claiming that he had sold the missing guns and later claiming that some of the guns had been stolen. 

Ramos faces a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $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; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Stephen Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg A. Friedholm of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

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