Convicted drug dealer charged with running guns from New Hampshire to Mattapan

A convicted drug dealer was indicted yesterday on charges he got New Hampshire drug addicts to buy guns for him, which he and an associate would then drive down to Boston to sell for drugs.

Shayne Parker would pay for the guns with drugs, which he would carry in small plastic bags under his scrotum, according to an affidavit in the case by the ATF agent who led the investigation into his activities in March and April of 2014. The affidavit names Parker's alleged accomplice, a Mission Hill man who also has a criminal record, but that man has not been indicted in the case.

A federal grand jury indicted Parker, 39, on one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of unlawful transportation of firearms in Massachusetts - although officials say he actually managed to bring 20 to 25 guns into Boston. He had been in custody since March.

According to the affidavit, Parker and his accomplice would send the addicts into gun shops in New Hampshire, where they would buy guns, then hand them over. In one instance, one of the addicts, who cooperated with federal investigators, had his purchase of three guns held up by an issue with the federal database used to check gun purchasers for criminal records.

The affidavit says Boston Police recovered one of the guns on the street on April 2 of last year. BPD reports three men began to run when they spotted officers; two escaped, but one was caught and the gun seized. Boston Police recovered another one of the guns on April 18, 2014, according to the affidavit.

Parker had to hire straw purchasers for the guns because a records check would have shown a 1998 conviction for selling cocaine and a 2005 conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon.

Innocent, etc.