BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.
BOSTON – A Springfield man previously convicted of rape was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Springfield today in connection with unlawfully selling a firearm and ammunition.
Hector Nieves, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
On Sept. 2, 2015, Nieves negotiated the sale of a .22 caliber pistol and ammunition to a cooperating witness. He received the cash from the cooperating witness, and arranged for an associate to deliver the firearm and ammunition. As a result of previous convictions for rape and failure to register as a sex offender, Nieves was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Lawrence J. Panetta, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. The case was also investigated by the Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Ortiz’s Springfield Office.
