Charlestown man charged with firearm offenses held on $7,500 bail

BOSTON, November 10, 2022 — A Charlestown man was arraigned on multiple firearm charges at BMC Dorchester Division after the car in which he was a passenger was pulled over for speeding and other violations earlier this week, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

MICHAEL ESPEJO, 24, was charged Monday with possession of a large capacity firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and possession of large capacity feeding device. Judge Jonathan R. Tynes ordered Espejo held in lieu of $7,500 bail with the requirements that he stay away and have no contact with the victim. Espejo will appear in court on December 5th for a probable cause hearing.

Assistant District Attorney Charles Marshall said that on November 6 at around 1:45 a.m. Boston Police officers conducted a traffic stop of a gray Honda Accord for speeding and an illegal right-on-red turn. When approaching the vehicle, officers observed Espejo in the passenger seat with an open beer in his hand. When speaking with Espejo, officers illuminated the rear passenger compartment and observed a trigger guard and slide of a pistol on the floor behind the seat. Additional units responded to the scene and passengers were removed to check the vehicle. Officers found a Springfield 9mm semi-automatic pistol on the back passenger seat floor. Officers then searched Espejo and found one live round in the front right pocket of his pants. Due to the location of the gun in the vehicle, Espejo was arrested and charged with the firearm offenses.

“Seizing illegal guns is a daily occurrence for police in Boston. Whether they are responding to a call of shots fired or pulling over a vehicle, as in this case, they are constantly dealing with illegal firearms, a large majority trafficked into Boston from states with easy-access gun laws.  Getting to the root of why so many people feel the need to have these weapons is a challenge we must meet together,” Hayden said.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications