Crime & Safety
Worcester Teen Charged After Assaulting Federal Informant During Planned Gun Sale: USAO
Prosecutors say the 18-year-old struck a federal informant with a gun during an alleged robbery tied to a firearm sale.
WORCESTER, MA —A Worcester teen is facing charges after prosecutors said he assaulted a federal confidential informant during a planned firearm transaction in the city, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Joshua Guzman, 18, was charged with assault of a person assisting federal officers with a dangerous weapon. He remained detained in federal custody following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester earlier today.
On Feb. 18, Guzman and another individual coordinated the sale of a firearm to a federal confidential informant through a series of WhatsApp communications, according to charging documents. Guzman and the other person directed the informant to meet at a location in Worcester on Feb. 25 to complete the transaction.
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Guzman and the other individual entered the informant's vehicle. After money was exchanged for a gun, the documents allege Guzman removed a firearm from his waistband, racked the slide back and pointed it at the informant while stating, “Gimme everything [expletive]."
Guzman then struck the informant in the head with the firearm and grabbed the firearm the informant had purchased from the center console before both individuals fled the vehicle, according to charging documents.
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The informant immediately alerted monitoring agents who had been conducting surveillance in the area, according to the charging documents. Guzman was observed fleeing on foot and was apprehended a short distance away after a brief pursuit, the documents state. During the chase, a firearm fell from Guzman's clothing and was recovered.
The second individual was located and arrested nearby after a perimeter was established. Investigators later recovered clothing, a cellphone and about $1,600 in cash that the documents describe as consistent with the proceeds of the robbery.
Guzman is facing a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
No further court dates have been shared by the USAO.
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