Springfield man sentenced for five illegal firearms including silencer, Glock switch

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Springfield man have been sentenced to prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to illegal possession of five firearms.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 25-year-old Benjamin Hunter-Blake of Springfield was sentenced to nine years and 6 months in prison following by 3 years of supervised release. Hunter-Blake previously pleaded guilty to felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, unlawful possession of machinegun, and unlawful possession of unregistered firearm (a silencer).

On January 27, 2023, officers searched Hunter-Blake’s home in Springfield and seized five firearms, including a ghost gun with a “Glock switch” machine gun conversion device, four other Glock switches, a silencer, large capacity magazines, and a large amount of ammunition. Police also seized his phone which contained evidence that he had been receiving other firearms and distributing them to others, including one person with a felony conviction.

Hunter-Blake has previously been convicted of firearm felonies in two separate cases and is currently indicted and on house arrest for a third-state firearms case.

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