BISMARCK - U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on June 29, 2012, Adam J. Winarske, 26, of Bismarck, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of possession of firearm and ammunition by convicted felon. Winarske pleaded guilty to the charge on March 13, 2012.

Judge Hovland sentenced Winarske to serve 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Winarske was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

In June 2011, Bismarck Police received information that an individual was trying to sell a stolen firearm. Through an acquaintance, law enforcement officials arranged a meeting with the individual in Bismarck to purchase the gun from him. When the individual arrived, he was identified as Adam Winarske, a gun was found and Winarske was arrested.

Winarske was prohibited from possessing a firearm by virtue of his 11 prior felony convictions, including five burglary convictions in 2005 and 2006 and two convictions for corruption of a minor in 2006. Due to the fact that three or more of these convictions were “violent felony” convictions, the offense carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Bismarck Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hagler prosecuted the case.

 

 

 

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