3 in Guilford arrested on weapons charges

GUILFORD – A special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested three Guilford residents Thursday on weapons charges.

Arrest warrants for Dennis and Mary Chase were issued by the U.S. District Court after grand jury indictments charging both with one count of conspiracy to unlawfully transfer a machine gun and a second count of unlawful transfer of a machine gun.

A third suspect, Deane Fortier, was arrested for knowingly and unlawfully transferring a shotgun.

The ages of the accused weren’t included in court documents available Thursday.

The Chases each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the charge of conspiring to transfer the machine gun, in addition to up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the charge of transferring the weapon.

They also could face up to three years of supervised release.

The charges stem from a March 22 incident in which Mary Chase transferred a .39-caliber machine gun in exchange for $2,000. About five months later, Dennis Chase received an additional payment of $500 for the gun.

It is unclear what penalties Fortier will face if convicted of unlawfully transferring a 12-gauge Stevens 940 shotgun that wasn’t registered to him.

Pending any pretrial motions or pleas, all three are scheduled to go to trial Feb. 5 before U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock.