Boston Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearm Offenses and Straw Purchasing Conspiracy

BOSTON - A Boston man was sentenced today for conspiring to illegally traffic and straw purchase firearms.

Gustavo Rodriguez, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2023, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL and one count of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL. Rodriguez was charged by complaint on Jan. 17, 2023 along with Cory Daigle and Shakim Grant. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on March 16, 2023.

From in or about August 2022 through November 2022, Rodriguez and Daigle conspired to create false entries in records required to be maintained by Daigle, an FFL, in order to conceal the illegal sale of multiple firearms through Grant to Rodriguez, who could not lawfully purchase or possess firearms. Specifically, Grant and Daigle made and signed false representations on required forms to disguise Rodriguez's identity as the true firearm purchaser. Rodriguez is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The defendants also attempted to coverup the illegal straw purchase by providing false information to law enforcement.

Daigle and Grant each pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. On Jan. 10, 2025, Daigle was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On Oct. 18, 2024, Grant was sentenced to three years of probation.

United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.