Man allegedly sold assault weapon, shotgun to ATF agent

John J. Miller, 29, of Milford, N.H., sold weapons to an undercover federal agent during a meeting Tuesday in Tewksbury, authorities said.Tewksbury Police Department photos

A New Hampshire man allegedly sold a military-style assault rifle, a shotgun and thousands of rounds of ammunition to an undercover federal agent who was part of a joint investigation with Tewksbury police, officials said.

John J. Miller pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Lowell District Court Wednesday to charges including trafficking firearms, sale of an assault weapon, possession of a large capacity assault rifle, and 11 counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition clip. Bail was set at $20,000 and Miller was ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device and not to leave Massachusetts, according to a spokeswoman for Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan.

Miller, a 29-year-old Milford, N.H., resident was arrested in Tewksbury on Tuesday, according to Tewksbury police and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

He drew the attention of law enforcement when he allegedly attempted to illegally sell firearms in Tewksbury and one other Massachusetts community, officials said. As part of that investigation, Miller met with an undercover ATF agent at the Holiday Inn on Highwood Drive in Tewksbury, officials said.

During that meeting on Tuesday, Miller allegedly sold the assault rifle, a shotgun, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition, officials said. He was arrested as he left the meeting, and authorities found a loaded handgun inside his vehicle.