Bay State teenager pleads guilty to firearms thefts

CONCORD - A Massachusetts teenager pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to steal firearms from federal firearms licensees, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced last week.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between Aug. 29, 2021, and Oct. 4, 2021, William Mejia, 19, of Lawrence, Mass., conspired with others to steal firearms from three New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensees. During the course of the conspiracy, more than 40 firearms were stolen from Milford Firearms in Milford, Second Amendment Arms in Windham, and MacPhearson Firearms in Brentwood. Mejia's fingerprints were found on one of the stolen firearms that was later recovered from a co-conspirator's residence, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Evidence recovered from a co-conspirator's phone included pictures of Mejia holding stolen firearms as well admissions of his involvement in the conspiracy.

Mejia is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Andover Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department.