BOSTON – A Canton man was charged yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of cocaine.
Hollis Owens, 44, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, four counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Owens was previously charged by complaint and arrested in April 2016.
According to court documents, in the spring of 2016, law enforcement officers were investigating illegal distribution of cocaine in Framingham. During that time, officers conducted several controlled purchases of cocaine from Owens. In April 2016, a search of Owen’s residence revealed approximately 18 grams of crack cocaine, a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm hand gun, 114 rounds of various caliber ammunition and $1,869 in cash.
Owens was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had a prior state felony conviction.
The charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of a controlled substance provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison and no greater than a lifetime which must be served consecutive to any other imposed sentence, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Lawrence J. Panetta, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.