Jonathan Reyes Guilty Plea

CONVICTED FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL FIREARM CHARGE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A convicted felon found to be in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number when he was pulled over by Pawtucket Police in October 2020 for not wearing a seat belt and for driving a vehicle that had not been properly registered is, according to court documents, facing five years in federal prison after pleading guilty today to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to information presented to the court, Jonathan Reyes, 35, of Pawtucket, was stopped by Pawtucket Police on October 14, 2020, when he was observed not wearing a seatbelt and driving a car with out-of-state license plates that were registered to a different vehicle. Reyes claimed to police that he had just purchased the vehicle. He provided them with a Bill of Sale that did not contain a VIN, date of sale/purchase, or signatures of the buyer/seller.

While speaking with an officer, the officer noticed a dark satchel in the middle of the back seat. When asked what he removed from his chest as he was being pulled over, Reyes responded that he had removed his seat belt. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a loaded Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number inside the black satchel.

As Reyes was being placed under arrest, he briefly attempted to flee police but was quickly apprehended.

Appearing today before U.S. District Court William E. Smith, Reyes, who was previously convicted on felony drug trafficking and misdemeanor domestic assault charges, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.

If accepted by the court, a plea agreement filed in this matter jointly recommends that Reyes be sentenced to serve a 60-month term of incarceration in federal prison. Reyes, who is currently detained in federal custody, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2021.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ly T. Chin and William J. Ferland.

The matter was investigated by the Pawtucket Police Department with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.