BOSTON, Nov. 19, 2015— Two Dorchester men were arraigned this week after State Police found a firearm with a defaced serial number and a ski mask hidden in a secret compartment during a motor vehicle stop, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

ROLANDO DOMINGUEZ-VELEZ (D.O.B. 9/19/88) and ELIAS PERALTA-ALMANZAR (D.O.B. 6/11/90) were arraigned in Dorchester Muicipal Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm, and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.  Dominguez-Velez was additionally charged with speeding, a left lane restriction violation, and unlicensed operation.

State police stopped a Kia Sedona after clocking the vehicle at 50 mph – well above the posted speed limit of 30 mph – in the area of Galvin Boulevard at approximately 2:20 a.m. Saturday.  During the course of the motor vehicle stop, troopers identified the driver as Dominguez-Velez and his passenger as Peralta-Almanzar and learned that neither had a valid driver’s license.

As neither of the men was legally able to drive the vehicle, troopers removed both from the car and conducted an inventory search before having it towed from the scene.  During the course of the search, they found paper towels covering a black ski mask and a sock that held 21 live rounds of ammunition in the area around the gearshift.

The troopers summoned a K9 unit, which alerted on the gearshift area.  On closer inspection, troopers recovered a fully loaded Smith and Wesson .45 revolver hidden deeper in the compartment.  The revolver’s serial number was unreadable, and troopers observed what appeared to be dried blood on parts of the firearm, prosecutors said.

The revolver and other items found during the search will be tested for DNA and fingerprint evidence, prosecutors said.

Dominguez-Velez is represented by Christine Fosco and Peralta-Almanzar by William Brennick.  Both return to court Dec. 15.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.