The Brighton man who led State Police on a multicity chase Wednesday evening was wanted for his role in the illegal sale of an unregistered handgun in Revere, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said Thursday.

Leroy Martin, 34, was arraigned in Chelsea District Court on Thursday on 10 offenses including unlawful possession of a firearm, improper sale of a firearm, unlicensed sale of ammunition and being a Level III armed career criminal — this charge based on Martin’s convictions, including a 2008 gun and assault conviction for which he served four years in prison and is on probation.

Martin is also charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license, failing to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and civil motor vehicle infractions.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Henry recommended that Martin be held on $500,000 cash bail. Judge James Wexler imposed $100,000 cash bail but, at Henry’s request, ordered that Martin wear a GPS monitoring device if he posts that amount.

Henry told the court that a task force of State, Revere, and Lynn police, along with Essex County Sheriff’s employees and special agents of the FBI, were monitoring what they expected would be an illegal handgun transaction Wednesday afternoon as part of an investigation.

Evidence suggested that the transaction would involve a seller who identified himself as “Hitman” and would take place in the parking lot of the Target department store in Revere. Shortly after 4:30 p.m., investigators watched as Martin’s gray Oldsmobile Alero pulled into the store’s parking lot and an person got inside briefly. Investigators followed when the person left.

State Police tried to pull the Alero over near Bell Circle, but Martin sped along Route 1 southbound at up to 65 miles per hour, officials said. During the course of the pursuit, investigators were told Martin had sold the other person a loaded .357 -caliber revolver for $750.

The chase continued into Cambridge and Boston, where Martin is believed to have collided with another vehicle and try to escape on the Red Line of the MBTA. He was arrested by State Police at the Kendall station.

Martin was represented in court by attorney Marcy Levington. He will return to Chelsea court on July 9 and could face additional charges in other jurisdictions as a result of the chase.

This post is a lightly edited press release.