Springfield Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearm

SPRINGFIELD, MA—A Springfield man was charged yesterday in federal court with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Marian McGovern, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner William Fitchet of the Springfield Police Department; and Michael J. Ashe, Jr. Hampden County Sheriff, announced today that RINGO VAUGHAN, age 27, Springfield, was charged in an indictment with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

The Indictment alleges that on October 8, 2009, VAUGHAN possessed a loaded .44 caliber revolver after having been convicted of a felony.

If convicted on these charges, VAUGHAN faces up to 10 years' imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the FBI's Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, consisting of law enforcement personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Massachusetts State Police, Springfield Police Department, and the Hampden County Sheriff's Office. The FBI's Gang Task Force is assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Hampden County District Attorney's Office. The case is are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Ortiz's Springfield Office.

The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.