Previously Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition (DOJ)

Previously Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Illegally

Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition

CONCORD - A Manchester man and previously convicted felon was sentenced today in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.

Ignacio Hernandez, age 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 70 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2025, Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

"Despite being a convicted felon who cannot legally possess a firearm and despite being on federal supervision for drug trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm, the defendant chose to arm himself with a gun and a loaded high-capacity magazine" said U.S. Attorney Creegan. "The public must be protected from repeat offenders who try to get their hands on dangerous weapons."

"Ignacio Hernandez persisted in criminal activity despite receiving a prior federal prison sentence," said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas A. Greco. "Returning him to federal custody protects the community and interrupts his habitual criminality. This case also serves as an excellent illustration of the partnerships ATF enjoys with our local police department counterparts. The Manchester Police Department's outstanding work was further enhanced by using ATF's resources to secure a federal prosecution."

According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2024, the Manchester Police Department received a tip that a man known as "Cali" was on "federal parole" and kept a firearm in the back of his car. The Manchester Police identified "Cali" as Ignacio Hernandez. Hernandez was on supervised release after serving a federal prison sentence for two federal felonies: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. After obtaining a search warrant, the Manchester Police Department stopped Hernandez while he was driving and searched his car. In the trunk, they found a small black satchel that contained a semiautomatic Sig Sauer .40 caliber pistol and an extended magazine loaded with twenty-three .40 caliber rounds of ammunition. As a felon, federal law prohibits the defendant from owning or possessing ammunition or firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The U.S. Probation Office and the Manchester Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.