CONCORD – A young man with a substantial criminal record who has lived in both Nashua and Merrimack in the last few years has been sentenced to federal prison as part of a plea deal involving a stolen firearm.

Illya K. Scott II, 21, will serve one year and one day behind bars, according to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray.

The federal charge, which accuses Scott of possessing a stolen Beretta .380 handgun, stems from Scott’s arrest in Nashua, slightly more than a year ago.

Scott agreed in July to enter a guilty plea to the charge in exchange for the prison sentence, authorities said.

“In order to protect the Granite State from violent crime, we will continue to be aggressive in our efforts to prosecute those who possess stolen firearms,” Murray stated.

“Thefts of firearms and trading in stolen firearms undermine public safety by providing criminals with a means by which violent crimes can be committed.”

The case, which originated in Hillsborough County Superior Court-South after Scott’s Nov. 6, 2018 arrest by Nashua police, was subsequently moved to the federal level.

The arrest followed closely that Nov. 6 arrest, which was part of an undercover police operation targeting suspects believed to be involved is selling drugs in the city.

Scott was charged with selling psilocybin mushrooms to an undercover police agent for $40.

A short time later, police investigating the theft of the Beretta handgun from a local residence developed Scott as the suspect. Undercover officers then contacted Scott to arrange the purchase of $130 worth of mushrooms and the Beretta handgun for $600, according to police reports filed in court at the time.

Police then issued a warrant for Scott’s arrest and took him into custody. During a post-arrest interview, police said Scott admitted to stealing the gun.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, or at dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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