North Andover Man Pleads Guilty To Gun, Explosives Charges: Feds

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — A North Andover man, previously convicted of felonies, had 32 guns, 9,000 rounds of ammunition, multiple fireworks containers, and shrapnel accessories, according to federal prosecutors.

Daniel Medina, 64, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston on Wednesday to unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosives and as a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Law enforcement responded to his North Andover home after receiving a report of an explosion July 1. Police arrived and found two vehicles had been damaged as well as a piece of mail addressed to Medina which was under the rear passenger door of one of the vehicles.

The damage to the vehicles and materials left behind "were consistent with common items used in manufacturing homemade explosive devices, specifically ball bearings or shrapnel," prosecutors said. Witnesses also reported seeing Medina running from the damaged vehicles toward his home after the explosion, according to prosecutors.

Authorities searched Medina's home the following day and said they found 32 firearms, including 12 rifles, 15 pistols, three shotguns, and two antique firearms; 75 magazines for various caliber firearms; a Glock switch device that can turn a handgun into a machine pistol by boosting its firing rate; books on making explosives; shrapnel accessories like BBs and ball bearings; multiple fireworks containers; and various containers of powders produced and shipped in interstate commerce.

Authorities found many of Medina's guns didn't have a serial number. His license to carry weapons expired in 2000.

Medina is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition, and explosive material due to a 2002 state conviction of assault and battery in Lawrence District Court. He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for that crime, prosecutors said.

He faces a combined fine of $750,000 and 23 years in prison.