BOSTON (WHDH) - A Tyngsboro police officer and a Chinese national were arrested Wednesday after authorities say they illegally modified firearms and sought to build a shooting range to serve regional and international customers. Tyngsborough Police Officer and Chinese National Charged with Violations of National Firearms Act Wednesday, January 6, 2021 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts Defendants illegally modified firearms and sought to build shooting range to serve regional and international customers Whitman and Lu brought in a Chinese investor, who contributed several million dollars to the project. A woman is dead Thursday after a fire broke out in a home in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. In a statement sent to MassLive, Tyngsborough Police Chief Richard Howe said Whitman is currently employed by the towns police department but was placed on administrative leave in August 2019 based on knowledge about the federal investigation. A one-time Tyngsboro police officer who owned a local gun shop has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to firearms violations. TYNGSBORO, Mass. Providing training to foreign nationals requires a license from the U.S. Department of State, which Whitman and Lu reportedly never applied for nor received. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Whitman, a Tyngsboro police officer, runs Hitman . At their initial appearance in US District Court in Boston, federal prosecutors said the charges are part of a larger investigation that involves Whitman and Lus dealings with China. We need to encourage police officers to question each other's approach also. I am very troubled by (the allegations), Chief Howe said. Prosecutors said Whitman also appeared in several of the videos. The bank fraud allegations center around both Lu and Whitman claiming to own half of Freedom Alley Shooting Sports along with an unidentified relative of Lu, when in reality a Chinese investor and his wife who are identified in court records only by their initials owned 79% of the business, with Whitman and Lu owning just 21%, according to the indictment. Job in Boston - Suffolk County - MA Massachusetts - USA , 02118. According to descriptions of the killer at the time, he'd be close to 60-years-old now. The district court of the Hessian city did not admit the indictment, report "Hessenschau" and "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". The shops A&D book indicated that the firearm was acquired from another store as a pistol. Police Officer Gonzalo Carrasco, Jr. Selma Police Department, CA EOW: January 31, 2023 Master Patrol Officer Clarence L. "CJ" Williams Cairo Police Department, GA EOW: January 28, 2023 Supervisory Officer Jacqueline Montanaro United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US Lu previously pleaded guilty to two federal counts. Listed on 2023-03-01. Portsmouth, NH Yes, it protects everyone, police officers too. The pair operated Hitman Firearms. Tyngsborough Police. All rights reserved (About Us). TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. Toggle navigation. Phone Numbers Telephone: (978) 649-7504 Fax: (978) 649-3670 Emergency: 9-1-1 Confidential Tip Line: (978) 649-7504, option 9. DO NOT WAIT. Federal prosecutors allege the pair possessed and altered firearms without necessary federal licenses. TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. TYNGSBORO Tyngsboro selectmen voted in executive session on Wednesday night to take no disciplinary action against Lt. Shaun Wagner, the president of the superior officers' union, in. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts, Tyngsborough Police Officer Indicted for Bank Fraud and National Firearms Act Violations, Member of Violent North Shore Drug Enterprise Sentenced for Possessing Firearm in Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy, Two North Shore Men Indicted for Drug Conspiracy Involving Tens of Thousands of Counterfeit Pills, Member of Brockton Drug Crew Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison, Tyngsborough Police Officer Indicted For Bank Fraud and National Firearms Act Violations. + Caption As in past years, if your, Our area is forecast to receive 3-6 inches of snow beginning Tuesday between 12-2 am, and ending by late afternoon / early evening on Tuesday. 20 Westford Road Tyngsborough, MA 01879. Whitman, 36, who was hired by Tyngsboro Police in 2010, has been on paid administrative leave since August 2019. TYNGSBORO (CBS) - Police in Tyngsboro attempted to stop the driver of a car who was killed in a head-on crash with a garbage truck Friday afternoon. Daniel Whitman, 36, of Pelham, New Hampshire, and Bin Liu, 49, a Chinese national living in Westford, are expected to appear in Boston federal court Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to violate provisions of the National Firearms Act by making, possessing and failing to register short-barreled rifles, as well as possessing a suppressor without proper registration, according to United States Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts. In addition, Whitman knowingly made, possessed and transferred firearms that had been modified by the addition of stocks and short barrels, resulting in their classification as short-barreled rifles (SBR) under the NFA. According to the complaint, White and Lu also illegally ran gun clinics and training camps for Chinese tourists, without necessary permits from the US State Department. The NFA further prohibits an FFL who is not properly registered from manufacturing or changing a firearm that originally was not an NFA weapon to create an NFA weapon. When a fire or emergency medical call is received, Firefighters - Emergency First Responders respond from their homes to the fire station. Government. Thus, the identity of the true owners of FASS and the source of the funds invested in the FASS project were both material to Lowell Fives and Avidias loan decision-making process, the indictment stated. Five police officers from the 1st district in Frankfurt am Main and another woman who are said to have shared right-wing extremist content in a chat group will probably not have to go to court. The two men run Hitman Firearms, a Tyngsborough gun shop located on the New Hampshire, Massachusetts state line. BOSTON A Tyngsborough police officer was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on bank fraud and violations of the National Firearms Act (NFA). The federal investigation into the police officer began around February 2019. Both Lowell Five and Avidia also require that owners with a greater than 20% stake in a borrowing entity to submit personal financial statements and tax records to determine the borrowers creditworthiness, among other criteria. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Powers was taken to St. John s Hospital by police Cruiser. A plea hearing is scheduled for June 8, 2021. Tyngsborough Police Officer Daniel Whitman, a 36-year-old Salisbury man, was arrested in January and indicted by a grand jury in Boston federal court Wednesday on a slew of charges, among. TYNGSBORO, Mass. The ICE agent detailed how Whitman came to have the one of the police departments suppressor in his possession, explaining that he was trying to land a contract with the department to supply it with new service weapons. Former Tyngsborough police Daniel Whitman pleads guilty to federal firearms charges. Whitman and Lu brought in a Chinese investor, who contributed several million dollars to the project. Whitman was arrested and charged in January 2021 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2021. The investigation determined that the seized firearm is an short-barreled rifle since it has an 8.625 riffle barrel and a collapsible stock. Whitmans alleged co-conspirator in the alleged bank fraud and some of the gun charges, Bin Lu, 49, of Westford, has already agreed to plead guilty to a lesser federal criminal complaint. TYNGSBOROUGH Chief Richard D. Howe reports that the Tyngsborough Police Department arrested and charged two men with receiving a stolen pickup truck, a firearm and other items reported stolen recently. Tell Hank: (855) 247-HANK. Bill would see benefits restored by Seth Moulton bill, Lowell boys basketball team tops Malden in Division 1 prelim, Local roundup: Zachary James (31 points) powers Pelham High tourney win, Seeing orbs in photos? Upon arrival, there. The Fire Chief works part-time typically Monday through Friday. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. Charles Melanson, Officer Matthew Koziol and Officer Bethany Bonczar, Phone Numbers Lu is reportedly listed on the Federal Firearms License as a manager of Hitman Firearms and is also an investor in the store. Fax: (978) 649-3670 Despite agreeing to plead guilty to lesser charges than those faced by Whitman, Lu faces 51 months in federal prison, according to his plea agreement. In connection with those efforts, Whitman sought to obtain parts already in GPDs possession to create new rifles for GPDs consideration, the affidavit noted. Springfield:413-785-0235 Confidential Tip Line: (978) 649-7504, option 9, Copyright 2023 Tyngsborough Police Department Website Design byJohn Guilfoil Public Relations, National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day. Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News, How to register your school/organization for closings and delays, Billerica School Committee votes down proposal to extend school day, Women meet years after life-saving stem cell donation, Police: Boston man arrested for spraying unknown liquid at fellow MBTA passenger. Whitman remains free while awaiting his sentencing on January 27, 2023. The shops acquisition and disposition record (a/k/a A&D book) indicated that the rifle was acquired from another store in March 2016 as a lower receiver only. No new court appearances for Whitman were scheduled as of Thursday morning, according to online federal court records. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Have a question about Government Services? The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 fine. TYNGSBORO (CBS) -- A Dracut man was arrested after Tyngsboro Police said he was impersonating an officer while armed with a loaded gun for which he didn't have a license. The indictment claimed Whitman also knowingly made, possessed and transferred guns that had been modified by the addition of stocks and short barrels, resulting in their classification as short-barreled rifles (SBR) under the NFA. This is a developing story. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. In May 2021, Lu agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Oklahoma Most Wanted Fugitives. Daniel Whitman, 36, of Pelham, N.H., and Bin Lu, 49, a Chinese national from Westford, were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to violate provisions of the National Firearms Act (NFA) by making, possessing and failing to register short-barreled rifles, as well as possessing a suppressor without proper registration. 2023 Cox Media Group. Now that he has been indicted by a grand jury instead of merely charged in federal court, Whitman could be placed on unpaid suspension instead of paid leave, under Massachusetts law,but he would be entitled to back pay and benefits if he were not eventually convicted. However, in applying for loans from federally insured financial institutions, Whitman allegedly hid the true source of their initial funding from the banks and filed false documents in connection with their loan applications. Whitman and others allegedly recorded videos on a YouTube channel operated by Lu that promotes Hitman Firearms, FASS and the training camps. January 6, 2021 BOSTON (WHDH) - A Tyngsboro police officer and a Chinese national were arrested Wednesday after authorities say they illegally modified firearms and sought to build a shooting. ), WHDH TV 7NEWS WLVI TV CW56 Daniel Whitman's LLC tried selling guns to police department at a high price Daniel Whitman, 36, of Pelham, N.H., a full-time Tyngsboro Police officer who has been on paid leave for over a year, is seen in a video posted on his gun shops Instagram page several years ago. Attorneys Eugenia M. Carris, Christine J. Wichers and Evan D. Panich of Rollins Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. Whitman is accused of improperly marketing his business as an entity that could obtain and manufacture weapons that included suppressors, an attachment many police departments use for hearing protection and night sights, according to authorities. 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