BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - A Boston man who has been in custody since Thanksgiving of 2020 has been sentenced on Thursday for illegally carrying a loaded pistol, in addition to possessing and purchasing ammunition and chemicals used to create explosives. The defendant, 51-year-old Pepo Herd El, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in December of 2024. Herd El was sentenced to 49 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Florida mom makes teen son turn himself in for crime About one year prior to his arrest in 2020, records show that Herd El made online purchases of firearm equipment, such as a laser sight, magazines, and a concealable holster. He also bought extended magazine plates that allow the magazines to hold more rounds, and a Glock firing pin safety that reduces the force needed to pull the gun's trigger. On November 26, 2020, Herd El rode a bus from his residence in Dorchester to the Ruggles MBTA station, where officers detained him and had obtained a search warrant for him. Upon searching, officers found a loaded semi-automatic pistol, a laser sight, three spare magazines, 45 rounds of ammunition, a knife, and an infrared camera on Herd El's person. Herd El was also wearing a jacket that read "security" and a bullet-proof vest. He told the law enforcement officers that he was traveling to a Thanksgiving dinner. Officers were then able to search Herd El's home, where they found additional tools, including another magazine containing rounds of armor piercing ammunition. They also discovered a book with handwritten notes regarding materials needed to make TNT and C-4. Herd El had prior state convictions on his record from 2004 from possessing firearms without permits and other crimes, and has been prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. The sentencing was determined by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs. Local News Headlines Boston man sentenced for possession of firearm, armor-piercing ammunition Senator Adam Gomez sworn into Mass. State Senate for third term Local Farmer Awards applications open for western Massachusetts farmers Hadley to hold public hearing for digital equity plan WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.