Lowell Man Arrested In Connection With Guns Sale On SnapChat

LOWELL, MA – A Lowell man was arrested Wednesday and charged in connection with advertising the sale of a firearm on Snapchat.

Police arrested Juan Aparicio, 29, and he was charged by criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Aparicio is set to make an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell.

According to the charging document, on Jan. 6, police searched Aparicio’s home after seeing Snapchat videos showing Aparicio offering to sell guns. Police found a loaded assault rifle and cocaine during the search. Because he had previous convictions punishable by more than one year in prison, Aparicio is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

He faces up to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine means he faces an added sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan; Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division Kelly Brady; and Lowell Superintendent of Police Raymond Kelly Richardson announced the arrest in a joint release.