Repeat New Bedford Illegal Gun Offender Sentenced to Prison
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
November 21, 2023
A repeat illegal gun offender from New Bedford was sentenced recently to serve three to five years in state prison after being caught with a loaded firearms for the second time in the past few years, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Rashawn Gray pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with Carrying an Illegal Firearm-Subsequent Offense and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition.
On August 9, 2022, New Bedford Police were dispatched to Rivet and County streets for a reported altercation with a firearm. A witness saw a black male (later identified as the defendant) with braided hair, wearing shorts and a tank top get of a dark SUV and kick the door of another vehicle. The witness also stated that the defendant was brandishing a firearm at the time. Officer observed the suspect vehicle driving on County Street a short time later and recognized the defendant as the front passenger of the vehicle. Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop of the suspect vehicle and ordered the occupants out of the car. The defendant matched the witness description of the individual brandishing a firearm at the earlier incident.
As the defendant was removed from the front passenger seat, a .22 caliber round was found on his seat. A search of the vehicle revealed a Taurus Spectrum .380 handgun tucked inside the framework of the center console. The handgun was found to be loaded with five .380 rounds and one round in the chamber.
The defendant had previously been convicted in 2019 of carrying an illegal firearm and served an 18 month county jail sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Raffi Yessayan.
“This defendant already has a prior firearm conviction and drug distribution convictions. He is clearly a danger to the community and needs to be kept off the street to protect the public,” District Attorney Quinn said.
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
774-292-9576