MOSCOW, December 23 (RAPSI) – A federal judge of the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston ordered release of Stephen Silva, a friend of the Boston Marathon bomber Dzokhar Tsarnaev, Boston Herald reported on Wednesday.

According to Boston Herald, Silva is the man who lent his Ruger P95 pistol to Tsarnaev, the very same gun that was later used by the Tsarnaev brothers to execute MIT police officer Sean Collier. On the release Silva said that he feels guilt over Collier’s death and gave condolences to officer’s family.

Silva was arrested in 2014 on the gun and drug charges, Boston Herald reported. Silva pleaded guilty and testified against Tsarnaev on March 17 during the latter’s trial over Boston Marathon bombings. He had faced a potential sentence of four years in prison and $11 million fine, but spent only 17 months behind bars instead.

On the afternoon of April 15, 2013, two explosions occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. IEDs devised from pressure cookers, low explosive powder, shrapnel, adhesive, and other materials were hidden in backpacks that were then placed near metal barricades in areas packed with hundreds of spectators.

Tsarnaev was arrested following a dramatic manhunt during which his brother and co-suspect Tamerlan was killed, as was MIT Police Officer Sean Collier. Tsarnaev was charged on April 21 with the use of a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death.

Tsarnaev was found guilty on all charges on April 8, 2015. He was officially sentenced to death on June 24, 2015. Tsarnaev has spoken for the first time during the trial on that day admitting his guilt and asking for forgiveness.