Pair Indicted for Unlawful Transport of Firearms into Massachusetts from Alabama, Reports U.S. Attorney

24 February 2006

Two Boston women were indicted by a federal Grand Jury yesterday, charging them with the unlawful interstate transportation of firearms in connection with their allegedly traveling to Alabama to illegally purchase six firearms that they then transported back to Boston. The pair intended to illegally sell the weapons to others in the Boston area.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Kathleen O'Toole, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department; and Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in New England, announced the indictment today of NIYA MILLS, age 23, of 14A Fayston Street, Roxbury, Massachusetts, and SUKIA OMERE, age 20, of 855 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Each are charged with one count of unlawful transport into Massachusetts of firearms purchased out of state, and aiding and abetting.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the complaint, and evidence developed during a detention hearing conducted on January 20, 2006, when an anonymous tip was received on the Boston Police Crime Stoppers tip line concerning the unlawful transportation of firearms, an investigation was initiated by the Boston Police Department's Special Investigations Unit and the ATF. The tip stated that two women, MILLS and OMERE, were planning a trip out of state to purchase firearms that they then intended to transport back into Massachusetts. Law enforcement investigators immediately began surveilling MILLS and OMERE. Two days after receiving the call on the tip line, an ATF Special Agent was contacted by a confidential informant ("CI"), who also provided information about MILLS and her purchase of firearms.

It is alleged that MILLS and OMERE traveled to Bessemer, Alabama sometime between January 12, 2006 and January 17, 2006, where they purchased several firearms that they intended to bring back to Boston to re-sell illegally to others in the city. It is alleged that they purchased the weapons from individuals "on the street" after an attempt to purchase firearms from a pawn shop failed because they did not have Alabama drivers licenses.

MILLS and OMERE were arrested on January 17, 2006 as they pulled into the parking lot at OMERE's residence in the rental car they had just driven back from Alabama. Upon execution of a search warrant, investigators recovered 6 weapons and numerous rounds of ammunition, including a Charter Arms .38 caliber revolver -- loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition; a Lorcin .22 caliber pistol; an Interarms, .38 caliber revolver -- loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition; a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver -- loaded with 6 rounds of ammunition; a Charter Arms .357 caliber revolver; and a Lorcin .380 caliber pistol -- loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition.

Following their arrests, MILLS and OMERE appeared in federal court late before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Dein. They remain in federal custody following a detention hearing in which Judge Dein determined that they were a flight risk and engaged in the dangerous criminal activity of transporting guns in the Boston area for the purpose of profit. If convicted, each of the defendants faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in coordination with the Boston Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn MacKinlay in Sullivan's Major Crimes Unit.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: prnewswire

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