CONCORD — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - New Hampshire), published as received.

            CONCORD - Juan Diaz, 40, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in July of 2020, while conducting another investigation, Ashland police learned that Diaz had been in recent possession of several firearms. Officers learned that while spending time with an Ashland family, Diaz had handled and shot two firearms on the family’s property on June 27, 2020.  Law enforcement officers also obtained photographs of Diaz shooting the firearms.

            Diaz has numerous prior felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms.  Most recently, he had served a 10-year sentence in federal prison.  He began his term of federal supervised release in May of 2020.         

            Diaz is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2021.

            “Preventing violent crime is a high priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “One important way we can protect our community from violence is by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.  As this case demonstrates, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute criminals who possess guns unlawfully.”

            “ATF works diligently to prevent and reduce gun violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly D. Brady. “These collective efforts from the Ashland Police, ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are aimed at investigating crimes that significantly impact and harm members of our community. ATF will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure those who illegally possess firearms are held accountable.”

            This matter was investigated by the Ashland Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.

            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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