A Hyannis resident, Donnell Pina, aged 52, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing a firearm. The charge involves the possession of a Chinese SKS .762 caliber rifle. This admission was made before U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young, who has scheduled sentencing for June 4, 2025.
Pina's legal troubles began when he and co-defendant Ryan Diefenbach were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022. The indictment stemmed from an incident in September 2021 where both individuals were found with the rifle despite their felony convictions that barred them from possessing firearms.
Diefenbach received his sentence in October 2024: six years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
The charge against Pina carries potential penalties including up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The announcement regarding Pina's guilty plea was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley alongside James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives' Boston Field Division. Assistant United States Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum is handling the prosecution.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and measuring outcomes effectively.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.