Editors Note: The following press release is directly from ATF. Regular readers of AmmoLand News know our stance on the unaccountable Federal Agency: No comment. We invite our readers to leave their hard-hitting insights in the comments below.
BOSTON – -(Ammoland.com)- A former Campus Police Dispatcher for Cape Cod Community College Police pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with making false statements in order to purchase two firearms that can only be purchased by law enforcement officers.
Justin F. Watson, 36, of Mashpee, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements during the purchase of firearms and one count of making false statements in a record. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2022. Watson was indicted along with his girlfriend and co-defendant Angel Ecker in July 2019. Ecker has pleaded not guilty.
From March 2018 to February 2019, Watson was an Institutional Security Officer/Campus Police Dispatcher with the Cape Cod Community College Police. As such, Watson neither carried a weapon nor had the power to make arrests on campus.
Watson ordered a Glock pistol to be delivered to a firearms dealer on Cape Cod. On Aug. 26, 2018, Watson went to the firearms dealer to pick up the Glock, Model 22, GEN4, .40 caliber pistol. Before receiving the firearm, Watson provided his Cape Cod Community College identification card, which listed him as “Campus Police” and “Faculty/Staff,” to the manager and completed a Public Safety Purchase Form identifying himself as an Institutional Security Officer.
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Watson called another firearms dealer and spoke with the store’s operator, who informed him that only law enforcement officers with the power to conduct arrests could purchase Glock Model 26 firearms. Watson said he was a police officer with authority to make arrests. On Nov. 17, 2018, Watson went to the firearms dealer with Ecker and spoke with a sales manager. Ecker allegedly told the sales manager that she was Watson’s boss and that Watson had authority to make arrests. Watson identified himself as a police officer to the sales manager and then purchased a Glock, Model 26, GEN4, 9mm pistol for $425. Watson completed a required ATF Form and affirmed that he was the actual buyer of the firearm.
The form warned that, “If you are not the actual buyer, the dealer cannot transfer the firearm(s) to you.”
During the sale, Watson provided his Cape Cod Community College identification card and completed a certification letter indicating that he was purchasing the firearm for “on or off duty use” and not “for resale.” Watson also completed another certification form and listed himself as “Campus Police.”
It is further alleged that Watson then transferred the Glock Model 26 to Ecker on Dec. 19, 2018.
During an interview with law enforcement, Watson acknowledged that he used his Cape Cod Community College identification card when he purchased both Glock firearms. He stated he used that ID because he did not think he could purchase the firearms without it. He also acknowledged that if the firearms dealers had understood that he was not a police officer with arrest powers, they would not have sold him the firearms. Watson further stated that he knew that Ecker, a civilian, could not purchase a Glock Model 26 herself and that he purchased the firearm for her.
Straw purchases interfere with firearm regulation and recordkeeping, and federal law makes it a crime to knowingly make false statements to a firearms dealer in connection with the lawfulness of the sale.
The charge of making false statements during the purchase of firearms provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making false statements in a record provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. The Cape Cod Community College Campus Police, Barnstable Police Department and Mashpee Police Department provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Public Corruption Unit and Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boston Field Division
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.
Why is any Glock 26 not available for sale to civilians in masive2shits? A very stupid law, with a very stupid agency pressing for stupid charges. What a waste of time, l bet you a million bucks other than this misguided weapons charge this couple have clean records. Hunter Biden did worse than this. Pitiful……
After researching the process to get a license to carry permit for Massachusetts. Which is required to purchase a firearm. The only reason to lie in order to get the permit is because something in your background prevents you from being eligible. Massachusetts is a May Issue state and the process is protracted. It still isn’t worth jail time to get the needed permit. Yes I agree it’s a pain in the ass to have to do, but You get the Government You vote and all the consequences that come with it.
“You vote and [get] all the consequences that come with it.”
And it is high time for the sheeple to stop complaining, smell the coffee, admit to themselves that they themselves created the mess they’re complaining about, and it’s time to wake up and fix it.
IMO.
OFC.
time for theme to arm up and chase out the red coats
it is also restrictions on what guns you can own ,too many bad bullets
the reality in mass is not how the law reads, first there is the list of guns that can be owned in the state, second permit to own a firearm permit for ammo ,I dont know if the limit law passed now a sherif has to sign off on your having a permit to carry ,so you need to know the sherif in the town you live in or where you work, and some are no issue some friends and family ,, I have one for the beach house …think about this you have a gun permit ,no ammo permit… Read more »
You have no impact on elections. The people did not vote for any of this. From the creation of the ATF to voting. Biden even said they have the most inclusive & exclusive voter fraud org ever created. Over 20 years in the making. And trillions of tax dollars to build it. Apparently you didn’t watch Dinesh movie. 2,000 mules. Or even took the time as a Voter to look into who SECURES the elections.
https://www.it-isac.org/ei-sig
Try reading between the lines a little.
$5 trillion is a big motivator.
They design it all. Do you really believe they don’t know how to use a backdoor ? Why do you think they won’t let anyone examine their machines ? As the visibility of the “glitches” found in Dominion Voting Systems continues to spread across multiple states, and the longstanding issues surrounding Election Systems & Software start to re-surface, one critical question has yet to be asked, “How did they manage to corner the U.S. election voter market in the first place?” On September 14, 2009, Hart Interactive, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Diebold Incorporated and Election Systems & Software, Inc.… Read more »
Glock handguns and pistols are not banned in Massachusetts; however, Glock does not sell firearms directly to Massachusetts consumers. That is because the guns do not conform with a myriad of Massachusetts safety requirements.
It must be one of those weapons of war. I carry a 26 daily. I must be one of those MAGA terrorists.
@T; IF you have admitted to being a Christian and an American Patriotic American Citizen, you have already been labeled a terrorist by 0b0z0 the I-Slamic!
Guilty as charged!
I see the government thugs are bragging about armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and violation of rights again.
Anyone who works for the AFT, belies their oath of office and is an enemy of We The People.
I just read the rules in this state for gun ownership and buying ammo
It is all about the money / home of democratic rule by default.
Another state that I won’t be visiting again
The state is infringing on the public’s rights by writing laws not voted for by the people of the state. They have the right to do that. You have a right to move form that state
“The Cape Cod Community College Campus Police, Barnstable Police Department and Mashpee Police Department provided assistance with the investigation.”
The original purchase, and false statements was for a Glock 22. I don’t see a Glock 26 being used as a duty weapon.