CONCORD - Edwin Quezada, 33, of Lawrence, Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to transfer firearms to an out-of-state resident by unlicensed persons, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, a New Hampshire resident agreed to sell firearms to a resident of Massachusetts. Quezada agreed to act as an intermediary for the Massachusetts resident.  On multiple occasions, Quezada traveled to New Hampshire to pick up firearms to deliver to the Massachusetts resident. None of the individuals involved were licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers or collectors of firearms.  As part of the scheme, Guzman obtained at least six handguns.

            Quezada is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2022.

            “To protect citizens from violent crime, it is important to enforce federal laws regarding firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “Those who seek to buy guns unlawfully often are planning to use them to commit crimes.  In our effort to protect public safety and prevent violence, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who participate in unlawful gun trafficking.”

             This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Walsh.

             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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