A convicted felon, Tarik Muhammad, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV for possessing a firearm and ammunition. Muhammad, a 30-year-old resident of Boston, will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. This sentencing follows his guilty plea in October 2024 to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In February 2023, Muhammad was denied entry to Encore Casino in Everett after security detected he was carrying a firearm. Though he left the scene before law enforcement arrived, security cameras recorded him leaving in a blue Toyota Rav 4. A notice was subsequently issued to law enforcement with his photos, vehicle, and license plate.
Two days later, Muhammad was seen driving the same vehicle in Roxbury. Upon attempted intervention by police, he fled, leading to a high-speed chase that ended with a crash into a parked car. Despite trying to escape on foot, Muhammad was apprehended. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was found in his waistband.
Due to previous felony convictions, including a conspiracy charge related to drug distribution in June 2022, Muhammad is barred from possessing firearms. At the time of the incidents, he was on federal supervised release.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, ATF Special Agent James M. Ferguson, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, an initiative to reduce violent crime and enhance community safety. More information about PSN can be found at the Department of Justice website.