Rise of the Moors members have been convicted for their roles in the lengthy armed standoff on I-95 in Wakefield.

Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer and Steven Anthony Perez were found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court jury in connection with the 2021 standoff on the highway. They were both convicted on gun and body armor charges.

The Rise of the Moors members and two of their vehicles were reportedly found by Massachusetts State Police in the breakdown lane of I-95 in Wakefield on July 3, 2021. They were wearing military style camouflage clothing and body armor, police said.

Latimer was armed with an AR-style large capacity rifle and falsely claimed that he was the leader of an armed militia from Rhode Island. The defendants claimed that they were on their way from Rhode Island to “train” in Maine, police said.

Latimer and Perez were with nine other people, who Latimer referred to as “his men.” They were also wearing camouflage military-style clothing and body armor. At least two of them were also carrying loaded, large-capacity AR-style rifles with large capacity magazines.

Police then learned that Latimer and Perez did not have drivers’ licenses or registrations for the vehicles they were driving, or licenses for the guns. When officers asked them to put their weapons down, they reportedly refused — resulting in an 8.5-hour armed standoff.

Eventually, after speaking with Mass State Police crisis negotiators, Latimer and Perez surrendered and were arrested.

Police seized: three large capacity AR-style rifles, a bolt-action rifle, a semi-automatic shotgun, two “drum” large capacity magazines capable of holding 50 rounds or more, dozens of 30-plus round large capacity magazines, and three semi-automatic pistols, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in varying calibers.

“The defendants in this case disrupted multiple communities and jeopardized the safety of many residents who were traveling or intending to travel on a busy Fourth of July weekend,” said Middlesex DA Marian Ryan. “Both Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer and Steven Anthony Perez demonstrated a disregard for our laws and failed to comply with the directives of multiple police agencies on scene.

“In Massachusetts we have strict laws regarding the licensing of firearms,” Ryan added. “When individuals come here with weapons, especially high capacity firearms like the ones these defendants had, without being in compliance, they create a substantial danger. The law enforcement agencies that responded that day navigated a very difficult, long and highly publicized situation while ensuring that no one got hurt.”

Latimer was found guilty of: unlawful possession of a large capacity weapon, unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a shotgun or rifle, improper storage of a rifle or shotgun near a minor, use or wearing body armor during a felony, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Perez was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm, and use or wearing body armor during a felony.

“The complex, hours-long standoff that was the subject of this case posed a significant public safety risk on one of the busiest travel days of the year,” Mass State Police Col. Jack Mawn said.

“Despite the inherent risk of illegally-possessed powerful weapons in the hands of these individuals, the Massachusetts State Police, including our STOP Team and crisis negotiators, Wakefield Police, and the NEMLEC SWAT Team used their training and expertise to contain, deescalate, and achieve a peaceful resolution with no injuries to the offenders, the public, or first responders themselves,” Mawn added. “I also commend the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office for their excellent work to secure justice through the successful prosecution of this case.”

Latimer and Perez are set to be sentenced on July 16.