New Bedford Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charges

A New Bedford man who was arrested in Dartmouth over the summer was indicted today by a federal grand jury on federal gun charges.

Jose Montanez, 23, was indicted on one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a convicted felon, the Office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling announced. Montanez was scheduled to make an appearance in federal court in Boston tomorrow.

According to a previous report, Montanez was arrested at the Capri Motel in Dartmouth back in July and charged in state court after police allegedly found fentanyl and cocaine packaged for sale and illegal guns at his hotel room. Prosecutors say that as a convicted felon, Montanez was prohibited from possessing firearms.

According to the federal indictment, Montanez possessed a Smith and Wesson .380 Bodyguard; an H&R .22 caliber revolver; a Springfield XD-40 .40 caliber handgun; six rounds of .380 ammunition; and 279 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.

The charge of being a convicted 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Evan Gotlob of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone, Lelling's office said.