Charlestown Man Arrested In Connection To Firearms Trafficking

CHARLESTOWN, MA — A Charlestown man was arrested Thursday and charged in connection with trafficking in firearms obtained from a straw buyer in New Hampshire.

Charles Baker, 44, was indicted on one count of dealing in firearms without a license and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Baker, made an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell. A detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.

Prosecutors accuse Baker of dealing in firearms until May last year, according to court documents. But he does not have a federal license to sell firearms and because of a prior conviction, he is prohibited from possessing them.

He faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of dealing firearms without a license. He faces up to 10 years for the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling, and the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division made the announcement.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together different levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime.