Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Trafficking and Illegally Possessing a Firearm (DOJ)

CONCORD - A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court for firearms trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.

Gicliff Rodriguez, age 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe to 63 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In May 2025, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. On June 30, 2025, Rodriguez' co-defendant, Rachael Cummings, was sentenced to 12 months of probation.

"Federal law is clear: if you are prohibited from possessing a firearm, you cannot try to get around that restriction by having someone else buy one for you," said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. "This defendant's actions put the public in danger, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to sidestep the law at the expense of public safety."

"The illegal trafficking firearms always poses a risk to the public. Rodriguez placed firearms in the hands of criminals who used them to commit acts of violence," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. "Today's sentence reflects the seriousness of that risk to the public and should serve as a warning to everyone that the unlawful trafficking of firearms will not be tolerated. ATF also commends the exemplary work of our partners at the Lowell Police Department for their assistance in this investigation."

According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2024, Rodriguez and Cummings drove from Massachusetts to a firearms and ammunition store in New Hampshire, where Rodriguez instructed Cummings to purchase three semiautomatic weapons for him. As a previously convicted felon, Rodriguez could not legally own or possess firearms. Investigators later recovered two of the three handguns purchased for Rodriguez, after they were used in violent crimes in Massachusetts.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S Attorney Matthew T. Hunter is prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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