CONCORD, NH – Nana Baffoe, 62, of Canada, was arrested on May 26 for claiming he was a resident of Manchester and buying $30,000-worth of firearms in Nashua.
Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith said a criminal complaint was filed in federal court charging that Baffoe entered the United States from Canada at a border crossing on May 18, 2015. A few days later, he met with a firearms dealer in Nashua and sought to purchase 100 handguns.
Under federal law, a firearms dealer can only sell handguns to a resident of the state where the dealer is located. According to the affidavit, Baffoe filled out paperwork that falsely stated that he was a resident of Manchester. Baffoe also provided the dealer with a cashier’s check in the amount of $30,500 to purchase the guns.
Information obtained by investigators showed that Baffoe did not live at the Manchester address that he provided and that he had been residing in Canada. Baffoe appeared before US Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone on May27 and was ordered detained temporarily pending a hearing that has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on June 1, 2015.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The crime with which Baffoe is charged carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The investigation is continuing. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Manchester Police Department, Nashua Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John J. Farley.
