Pawtucket man prohibited from receiving firearms charged with lying on firearm purchase application
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Pawtucket man has been charged in Sixth Division District Court with providing false information in order to secure a firearm following his attempt to buy a gun from a licensed firearms dealer in Pawtucket in December 2024.
On June 12, 2025, investigators from the Office of the Attorney General arrested Alexander Diaz (age 32), charging him with one count of providing false information while attempting to secure a firearm. Investigators brought the defendant to Sixth Division District Court in Providence later that day where he was arraigned.
As alleged in the complaint, on December 5, 2024, the defendant attempted to purchase a firearm from Lost Treasures, LLC in Pawtucket and was subsequently denied after a National Instant Background Check System (NICS) check returned results flagging that the defendant is prohibited from receiving a firearm.
Upon further review, investigators found that the defendant had been arrested by the Pawtucket Police Department on three separate occasions for domestic violence-related charges, including one conviction.
Under federal law, certain individuals are restricted from possessing a firearm. Individuals convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are prohibited from receiving firearms. This law informs one of the questions on the federal gun purchase application.
As further alleged, investigators contacted Lost Treasures and requested copies of the defendant’s state and federal applications. On his federal application, the defendant allegedly lied by denying that he had previously been convicted of a crime of domestic violence. Additionally, investigators obtained video surveillance footage from inside the store depicting the defendant filling out the firearms applications.
“As alleged, this case is a perfect example of our investigators using commonsense gun safety laws as intended: to protect Rhode Islanders,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Keeping firearms out of the hands of those with a criminal history of domestic violence is crucial to ensuring domestic and public safety. I want to thank the investigators from this Office’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit for its exceptional work here, and the licensed firearms dealer for its cooperation in this case.”
The Pawtucket Police Department assisted with the investigation.
