WORCESTER – A federal grand jury in Worcester has handed down an indictment of a former city resident on drug and weapons charges, including a charge for a machinegun
The grand jury indicted Juan Otero, 22, of Franklin, for Dealing in Firearms without A License, Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment, Possession of a Machinegun, and Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Cocaine. He was previously charged on March 4 with Dealing in Firearms without a License and Receipt of a Firearm while under Indictment.
According to federal prosecutors, Otero sold five firearms on four different occasions between Nov. 27 and Jan. 23. One of those sales was allegedly a Glock pistol with a Glock switch, a machinegun conversion device. Otero also allegedly sold large capacity magazines and multiple rounds of ammunition and distributed or possessed cocaine with intent to distribute around Dec. 6.
A state grand jury in Worcester Superior Court also indicted Otero for Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm and Ammunition and Attempted Assault and Battery.
The penalty for the charges faces in federal court are:
- Dealing in Firearms without a License and Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000;
- Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000;
- Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000; and
- Distribution Of Cocaine carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Editor’s note: The information provided in this report is based on events as described by the U.S. Department of Justice. The claims within are allegations which may be challenged by the accused in court.
