Dorchester Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession Charges

BOSTON, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Dorchester man was convicted today in federal court of illegally possessing a loaded firearm after having been convicted of a felony.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-Boston Field Division in New England, announced today that ROBERT D. PIPKINS, age 27, of 36 Hartwell Street, Dorchester, MA, plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Saris to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At today's plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government's evidence would have proven that, on January 7, 2007, Boston police while executing a search warrant entered an apartment at 36 Hartwell Street, Dorchester, MA. While in the apartment the police located a Ruger .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun belonging to PIPKINS. PIPKINS, after being advised of his Miranda rights, admitted ownership of the gun. Two latent prints were located on the gun and later determined to be PIPKINS's. Additionally located were a small quantity of crack cocaine and seven rounds of ammunition.

Judge Saris scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2008. PIPKINS faces up to life imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Boston Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Sullivan's Major Crime Unit.

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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office

CONTACT: Christina DiIorio-Sterling, +1-617-748-3356,
USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV

2008-03-03 17:54:55 0303454 PRNEWSWIRE