Guns recovered in traffic stop in Somerville on Sept. 2.

Three men were arraigned Tuesday on charges of illegal possession of firearms after a traffic stop uncovered eight weapons in their vehicle, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced.

Sherwood Gustave, 37, of Mattapan; Gunter Vital, 47, of Cambridge; and Anthony Edward Paulino, 18, of Somerville were arraigned in Somerville District Court.  Gustave was charged with carrying a firearm without a license (four counts), possession of a large capacity firearm (four counts), carrying a loaded firearm without a license (six counts), possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, receiving stolen property over $250, operating a motor vehicle after license suspended, and speeding.  Vital and Paulino were each charged with carrying a firearm without a license (five counts), possession of a large capacity firearm (two counts), carrying a loaded firearm without a license (six counts), possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, and receiving stolen property over $250.  Somerville District Court Judge Maurice Flynn ordered Gustave held on $10,000 cash bail, Vital held on $25,000 cash bail, and Paulino held on $500 cash bail.  All three defendants were also ordered not to possess any firearms as a condition of release.

The defendants’ next court date is October 3 for a probable cause hearing.

“These defendants, without being properly licensed, had in their possession several loaded, high capacity and inherently dangerous firearms, two of which had been previously reported as stolen,” District Attorney Leone said.  “We continue to work closely with local police departments and other state and federal public safety partners to take illegal weapons off of our streets and keep our communities safe.”

According to authorities, on September 2 at approximately 3:54 p.m., Somerville police observed a 2004 BMW speeding on Medford   Street in Somerville.  The officer pulled over the vehicle, which was being driven by Gustave.  Gustave was shown to have a suspended license.   Vital and Paulino were passengers in the vehicle.  The officer observed a tan holster in the rear seat of the car.  When additional officers arrived, the suspects were detained and officials searched the car, where they discovered eight firearms.  Six firearms were allegedly loaded and ready to fire.  None of the defendants possessed a license to carry.  Upon further investigation, it was discovered that two of the weapons were stolen.

The case is being investigated by the Somerville Police Department.

These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case was arraigned by Assistant District Attorney Brian Doxtader.