Massachusetts man facing over a decade in prison for dealing firearms, being a felon in possession of guns and ammo

BOSTON – A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in connection with illegally possessing and trafficking firearms.

Jaylen Rose, 28, pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2022 in federal court in Boston to one count of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Dec.1, 2022. Rose, who is from Taunton, was arrested and charged in January 2022.

“Massachusetts has strict requirements for firearms purchases and a thorough vetting process for lawful carriers for a reason. Prohibited individuals, like Mr. Rose, who possess and, moreover, traffic firearms and ammunition pose a very real danger to our communities and exacerbate the rise in violent crime we have seen across our nation,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Keeping illegal firearms off the street and out of the hands of prohibited individuals is fundamental to reducing gun violence in our Commonwealth and beyond. My office will continue its tireless work to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of prohibited individuals so our communities can be safe.”

From in or around December 2020 until Feb. 5, 2021, Rose travelled from Ohio to Massachusetts with firearms acquired in Ohio to resell the firearms for a profit to individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm. In total, Rose facilitated the purchase and resale of between eight and 24 firearms. On Feb. 5, 2021, Rose was stopped while in a vehicle in connection with an outstanding state arrest warrant and was found in possession of a Taurus firearm, an extended magazine, approximately 29 rounds of ammunition and $3,000, among other things. Rose does not possess a license to deal firearms and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior convictions.

The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Attorney Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Taunton Police Chief Edward James Walsh made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.