BOSTON – A former resident of Worcester, Juan Otero, 22, has been indicted on firearms offenses and distributing cocaine, according to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office.
The indictment includes charges of dealing in firearms without a license, receiving a firearm while under indictment, possession of a machine gun, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine.
The District Attorney’s Office said that Otero, who currently lives in Franklin, allegedly sold firearms between Nov. 27, 2023, and Jan. 23, 2024, and these sales involved five firearms, one of which was equipped with a machine gun conversion device.
Additionally, Otero is accused of distributing or possessing cocaine on Dec. 6, 2023.
Court documents reveal that Otero was previously indicted in 2022 in Worcester Superior Court on various state crimes and was on release pending trial on those charges at the time of the firearm sales.
Otero faces up to 20 years in prison, supervised release, and fines, if convicted.
According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, this case falls under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
