Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that Brian Luna (age 23), of Providence pleaded guilty in Providence Superior Court on October 11, 2019 to seven felony firearm and drug charges. Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause sentenced Luna to 10 years with six-and-a-half years to serve at the Adult Correctional Institutions and the balance suspended with probation.
Luna pleaded to one count each of: possession of firearms while possessing with intent to deliver marijuana and cocaine, possession of pistols without a license, altering serial numbers on firearms, conspiracy to alter serial numbers, selling pistols without proper paperwork, retail dealing without a license, and giving false information to purchase firearms.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that between April 7, 2017 and June 20, 2017, Luna illegally bought guns from firearms dealers. He and an accomplice then illegally sold the guns to their associates. Law enforcement arrested Luna and Alex Polanco on June 20, 2017 and recovered six firearms in total.
Luna and Polanco were arrested after a joint investigation by Providence Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Luna used false information to purchase firearms and then scratched off serial numbers on the firearms before he and Polanco sold them to their associates. After his arrest, a search of Luna's apartment revealed firearms, cocaine, and marijuana.
Polanco pleaded guilty in October 2018 and was sentenced to 10 years with five years to serve at the ACI and the balance suspended with probation.
Detectives Eric Greene and Peter Tesseris of the Providence Police Department and Special Agent Chris Jardin of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation into the case. Assistant Attorney General Joseph McBurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.
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