South Boston man held without bail pending dangerousness hearing after arrest carrying fully-automatic firearm

BOSTON, January 5, 2024 – A South Boston man with two pending firearm cases is now facing new charges in Dorchester BMC after an ongoing investigation led to the recovery of a fully-automatic high-capacity firearm on Thursday, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

FREDERICK HINES, 23, of South Boston was charged with possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a machine gun, possession of a loaded machine gun, carrying a firearm without a license, and carrying a loaded firearm without a license. Judge Erika Reis ordered Hines held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on January 10. 

Hines’s pending firearm cases are also out of Dorchester BMC.  

At about 7:10 p.m. on January 4, Boston police made an onsite arrest of Hines at Centre and Redwood streets based on information gathered from an ongoing firearm investigation. Officers observed an individual exit a residence on Centre Street matching the description officers had of Hines from earlier that day. Officers safely removed a firearm from a cross body bag worn by Hines across his chest. The firearm was determined to be a black Glock 17 with a painted gold slide loaded with one round in the chamber and 25 rounds in the magazine, capable of holding 30 rounds.

The firearm was also equipped with a gold machine gun conversion device, also known as an auto sear, affixed to the rear of the slide.  

“This is a frightening weapon capable of massive destruction in mere seconds. Our neighborhoods are immediately safer with Boston police successfully taking this gun off the street and taking the suspect wielding it into custody,” Hayden said. 

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe. 

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications