Rochester man pleads guilty to firearms charge

CONCORD - A Rochester man pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2016 William Bailey, 56, pawned a Ruger .22 caliber rifle at a federally licensed firearms dealer in Rochester.

Bailey previously had been convicted of attempted armed robbery in Georgia in 2011. As a convicted felon, Bailey is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm.

Bailey is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14.

"In order to maintain public safety, it is essential that we keep guns out of the hands of criminals," said Murray. "Disarming convicted felons advances this effort. Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute violent criminals who possess firearms."

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rochester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen White Fitzgibbon.