ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Mikelinich, age 53, of Wingdale, New York, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for illegally possessing a stolen 12 gauge, semi-automatic shotgun over an approximately two-and-a-half year period in which he resided in Columbia County, New York.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).

Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue also sentenced Mikelinich to 3 years of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment.

As part of his guilty plea, Mikelinich admitted that between November 2014 and February 2017, he possessed the shotgun while residing in Ancram, New York.  The shotgun had previously been stolen from its owner’s vehicle in New Windsor, New York, in 2004, and was purchased by the defendant from a co-worker.  Two prior felony convictions, including a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms, prevented Mikelinich from legally possessing the firearm.

At Mikelinich’s sentencing, Judge Mordue determined that Mikelinich unlawfully possessed two additional firearms.

This case was investigated by ATF, the New York State Police, the Columbia Country District Attorney’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.