BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.
BOSTON – A Weymouth man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with possessing several assault-style weapons and ammunition.
Robert Nicholas Kurtzer, 36, was charged in a complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. According to court documents, Kurtzer was prohibited from possessing either ammunition or firearms because of a prior state conviction for armed robbery. Kurtzer was detained pending a detention hearing before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.
According to the complaint, for the past two months, federal agents have been conducting an investigation into Kurtzer’s activities. On July 12, 2016, law enforcement officers stopped a pick-up truck in which Kurtzer was a passenger, for a traffic violation. Kurtzer was allegedly observed to be carrying a large knife on his hip and a canister of pepper spray. Law enforcement officers asked Kurtzer if there were any weapons in the vehicle and Kurtzer replied, “Lots of them.” Kurtzer was searched and allegedly found in possession of: (1) a 10.5 inch Smith and Wesson fixed blade knife; (2) a canister of Sabre Red O/C spray; (3) one .300 AAC BLK caliber bullet; (4) several .22 caliber long rifle ammunition; and (5) seven .45 caliber Winchester ammunition.
Following Kurtzer’s arrest, law enforcement officers searched Kurtzer’s Weymouth residence where they uncovered a basement workshop. During the search of Kurtzer's residence and a secondary storage locker the following items were allegedly seized: (1) two assault rifles (including a Midwest Industries AR15-style assault rifle with an optic scope attached to the top, and an AR15-style assault rifle with unknown manufacturer and a 37mm flare launcher attached to it); (2) a Marlin bolt-action rifle with an obliterated serial number; (3) two handguns (including a .45 caliber pistol bearing serial number 0615-020055; and a Colt MKIV Series 80 pistol, bearing an after-market Punisher logo); (4) numerous weapons parts for use in the assembly of assault rifles and handguns; (5) one firearm silencer; (6) approximately six unfinished, partly assembled firearm silencers; (7) numerous rounds of various ammunition; (8) milling machinery used to manufacture handguns and rifles; and (9) approximately 671 rounds of assorted ammunition.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Lawrence J. Panetta, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Cummings of Ortiz’s Organized Crime & Gang Unit.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
