A Hyannis man, Donnell Pina, was sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully possessing firearms. U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young handed down a 10-year prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. In March 2025, Pina admitted guilt to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment came from a federal grand jury in November 2022 against both Pina and his co-defendant Ryan Diefenbach. The case involved their possession of a Chinese SKS .762 caliber rifle back in September 2021. During that month, Pina sold this rifle along with a Walther Colt M4 Carbine .22LR caliber semi-automatic rifle to an informant collaborating with federal law enforcement on Cape Cod.
Both men had prior felony convictions which legally barred them from owning firearms. Diefenbach received his sentence in October 2024: six years imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division. Assistant United States Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum prosecuted the case.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department’s strategy launched on May 26, 2021, emphasizes building community trust, supporting preventive organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and evaluating outcomes.
