BOSTON – A North Andover man is facing federal charges for illegal possession of more than 30 firearms, explosives and ammunition found during a summer raid of his home.
Daniel Medina, 64, of 59 Village Green Drive, was charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosives, and as a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston
Medina is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, authorities said.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment. A district court judge deemed him a danger and ordered him held without bail.
On July 1, police went to the area of Medina’s North Andover residence after receiving a report of an explosion. Upon arrival, damage to two vehicles was observed, as well as a piece of mail addressed to Medina beneath the damaged rear passenger door of one vehicle, according to charging documents.
Authorities said the damages to the vehicles and materials left behind were consistent with common items used in manufacturing homemade explosive devices, specifically ball bearings or shrapnel.
Witnesses observed Medina running from the damaged vehicles toward his residence following the explosion, police said.
According to the charging documents, during a search of Medina’s residence the following day, law enforcement located and seized the following items:
32 firearms, including 12 rifles, 15 pistols, three shotguns and two antique firearms;9,000 rounds of various calibers of modern ammunition manufactured outside of Massachusetts;75 magazines for various caliber firearms;Various firearm parts;A Glock switch device;Books pertaining to the building of firearms and manufacturing of explosives and drugs;Shrapnel accessories such as BB’s and ball bearings;Multiple firework containers; andVarious containers of powders produced and shipped in interstate commerce.
Authorities allege the containers of powder were found to contain potassium chlorate and aluminum powder – the same flash powder found in the suspected explosive material used for the prior day’s explosion.
Medina has told police that he is not a violent person and that the homemade explosives found at his home were a hobby. He has also told police he had built most of his weapons, including a .50-caliber rifle.
Twelve pounds of psychedelic mushrooms were also found at Medina’s residence. Medina told police they were for his anxiety.
Medina is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive material due to a 2002 state conviction of assault and battery in Lawrence District Court, for which he was sentenced to two and a half years in jail, according to court records.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of illegal possession of a machine gun has a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. And the charge of illegal possession of an explosive material carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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.
North Andover and state police are assisting federal authorities with the investigation.
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