an unprintable combination of the sacred and the profane

An Ohio man was arrested in Boston yesterday with three guns - including a rifle and handgun with 100-bullet drums - after taking $8,500 for them from a local buyer who turned out to be working with ATF, according to court filings. 

Ruben Joel Sanchez, Jr., 31, of Youngstown, OH, is scheduled for his initial appearance in US District Court in Boston today on charges of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, according to court records.

According to an affidavit by an ATF agent on the case, a Boston man facing his own gun charges agreed to participate in an ATF/Homeland Security probe of Sanchez's alleged gunrunning in exchange for leniency in his case. The two began discussing guns the local man wanted.

On a date in June 2025, SANCHEZ texted CD-1 a video of SANCHEZ inside of a Federally Licensed Firearms dealership (FFL), to which CD-1 replied, "so expensive in the store[.]" SANCHEZ replied, "I no bro I'm at my n***as right now see some shit," and "I got you bro I'm getting all of em for the low." Based on my training and experience and the context of this investigation, I understand this to mean SANCHEZ was acquiring the firearms from a friend for a lower rate and not necessarily directly from the FFL.

Somewhere, he acquired three guns, which, after the two agreed on a price of $4,000, Sanchez drove to Boston and sold to the local guy, the affidavit states, continuing that the informant said he'd really love to get some rifles. 

Later in the month, Sanchez allegedly told the informant he had acquired four rifles, plus two or three handguns, and would drive them to Boston in a U-Haul trailer. But he never made it - he'd been arrested in Campbell, OH on some outstanding warrants, the affidavit states.

That was not his first arrest. In fact, he spent ten years in an Ohio prison for his role in a gang armed robbery of a teen getting off a school bus  in Warren, OH.

He got out of the Campbell lockup in October, after which the Boston informant contacted him again to arrange a purchase.

On a date in January, 2026, SANCHEZ sent CD-1 a video including what appeared to be two pistols (one with an extended magazine), one rifle, and one AR-style pistol. Both the rifle and AR-style pistol were equipped with 100-round drums. SANCHEZ informed CD-1 that a female was driving him from Ohio to Boston, and that he planned to arrive in Boston on Thursday, January 8, 2026. CD-1 agreed to purchase those firearms in Boston, MA on January 8, 2026 for $8,500. 

During the morning of January 8, 2026, CD-1 confirmed with SANCHEZ that he was on his way to Boston from Ohio and would be in Boston shortly. ...

SANCHEZ arrived at the predetermined meeting location in a vehicle driven by a female. SANCHEZ got out of the vehicle and walked to CD-1's vehicle. SANCHEZ got into CD- 1's car. When SANCHEZ entered CD-1's car, he did not have the firearms with him. CD-1 asked him where the firearms were located. SANCHEZ then exited CD-1's vehicle and returned to the vehicle he had arrived in. At that vehicle, he retrieved a white bag. He then handed the white bag to CD-1 through the driver's window of CD-1's vehicle. SANCHEZ then returned to the vehicle he had arrived in and retrieved two apparent rifles. Those firearms were not in a bag. SANCHEZ carried them to CD-1's vehicle and entered the passenger side of CD-1's vehicle.

CD-1 then handed SANCHEZ the $8,500. SANCHEZ appeared to attempt to count the money and then put it in his pants.

Agents then placed SANCHEZ under arrest. Agents searched SANCHEZ's person incident to arrest and recovered the $8,500 and seized a cell phone from his person.xxx 34. Agents also recovered the four firearms. After inspecting the firearms, agents determined that they were: a DPMS, model A-15, caliber .223-5.56, SN: DNWC014428, equipped with a loaded 100-round drum; Radical Firearms LLC, model RF-15, multi caliber, SN: 24- 011682, equipped with a loaded 100-round drum; a loaded Smith & Wesson, model MP9, 9mm, SN:NBA9876; and a loaded Ruger, model p95, caliber 9mmx19, SN: 318-25614, equipped with an extended magazine.

Innocent, etc.

Earlier:
Son of a South Carolina state trooper gets two years for buying guns that wound up on Boston streets.
Alabaman, three locals charged with shipping guns up to Boston.