Robert Reidy, 32, of Nashua, was recently sentenced to seven years in prison in connection with the unlawful possession of firearms. Courtesy photo/Nashua Police Department

CONCORD – Robert Reidy, 32, of Nashua, was recently sentenced to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to firearms charges.

According to the Nashua Police Department, officers began watching Reidy in October 2023. At that time, a felony arrest warrant had been issued for Reidy, who was reportedly selling drugs out of his house at 12 Grand Ave.

In October and November 2023, undercover officers were allegedly able to get Reidy to participate in three sales of methamphetamine.

During the controlled purchases, officers, using audio and video recording, discovered guns in Reidy’s bedroom. However, he was not permitted to own any firearms or ammunition after he was convicted, in 2017, of escaping from Lawrence Correctional Alternative Center, a minimum security facility, in Lawrence, Mass.

In December 2023, police arrived at Reidy’s home to execute the arrest warrant. Upon arrival, police found that Reidy had barricaded himself inside the residence along with a woman and child.

What followed was a five-hour standoff, during which time, additional equipment, including a Bearcat, was sent to the scene.

Although police were successful in getting the woman and child out of the house, Reidy still refused to comply. At that point, officers requested a second Bearcat and assistance from the Nashua and Manchester SWAT teams.

Officers ultimately fired gas cartridges through the windows and used a loudspeaker demanding Reidy to surrender.

The standoff came to an end as Reidy walked out the front door and was taken into custody.

According to police, Reidy later admitted to having “ghost guns.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, these are firearms that do not have serial numbers and have been assembled by someone who is not a licensed manufacturer.

While searching Reidy’s home, investigators seized one short-barreled AR-style rifle with a silencer, three disassembled guns in the attic and 160 rounds of ammunition.

In July of this year, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person and one count of possession of unregistered firearms.

The charges of methamphetamine distribution are still pending.

“Mr. Reidy put law enforcement officers in harm’s way by engaging in a three-hour standoff with the Nashua Police Department to conceal his three ghost guns, ammunition and an AR-style rifle underneath the insulation in his attic,” said U.S. Attorney Jane Young. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not stand by and allow dangerous individuals to possess deadly weapons. This office will investigate and prosecute convicted felons in possession of firearms with the goal of removing them from the public in a concerted effort to make our communities safer.”