Ex-Framingham Probation Officer Found Guilty of Gun Trafficking

FRAMINGHAM, MA- Paul Collins, former association probation officer in Framingham District Court, was found guilty of gun trafficking by a jury on Tuesday. He was found not guilty of possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without a permit.

Collins illegally gave Andrea Fazio, a frequent probationer he met in court, a handgun in May 2016. Fazio traded the gun for drugs that same day.

According to the MetroWest Daily News Collins told police the gun had been stolen when it came up in an investigation in May of 2016, but he told former Framingham and Natick district court probation officer David DiGiorgio that he had given the gun to Fazio.

It is unknown why he gave Fazio the gun, Collins lawyer argued that he was trying to help the woman, according to the MetroWest Daily News.

Collins sentencing was postponed to next week.

Read more at MetroWest Daily News.