Nashua Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Gun Crime

CONCORD, NH — A Nashua man with a history of mental health treatments pleaded guilty to a gun crime in U.S. District Court on Friday after being accused of purchasing a handgun from an undercover federal officer. According to court documents, Ryan Burns, 39, of Nashua bought the gun for $100, a box of .22-caliber ammunition and an antique gun.

Because of his previous involuntary commitment to a mental health facility, the possession of the gun was against the law. He will be sentenced on Jan. 14.

"In order to maintain public safety, we are striving to prevent gun crime in New Hampshire," said U.S. Attorney Scott Murray. "We will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who seek to obtain guns unlawfully."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manchester Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.

The case is part of ATF's Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.