Last week in federal court in Boston, a Chelsea resident entered a guilty plea to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Cesar Alicea, 22, admitted guilt to being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns, who set sentencing for Nov. 7, 2018.
Alicea was indicted in December 2017 alongside Andres Perez, also of Chelsea, who faced charges related to possessing cocaine base and heroin with intent to distribute. According to allegations, both Alicea and Perez are affiliated with the East Side Money Gang.
On Oct. 31, 2017, police stopped a vehicle in which Alicea was riding. When Alicea fled from officers, witnesses saw him discard an object. Law enforcement quickly caught and arrested him. The discarded item was later identified as a .25 caliber Raven Arms pistol.
The offense of felon in possession of a firearm carries potential penalties including up to 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000. A federal district court judge determines the actual sentence by considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutory provisions.