Greece Woman indicted for supplying guns used in christmas eve shooting

ROCHESTER, N.Y.– U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Rochester returned a three-count indictment charging Dawn Nguyen, 24, of Greece, N.Y., with knowingly making a false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms; selling and disposing of firearms to William Spengler, a known felon; and possession of firearms while being an unlawful user of marijuana. The indictment involves firearms that were used in the Christmas Eve shooting that resulted in the deaths of Webster Police Lt. Michael Chiapperini and Firefighter Tomasz Kaczowka, and seriously injured Firefighters Theodore Scardino and Joseph Hostetter. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000.00, or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Bret A. Puscheck, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on June 6, 2010, Nguyen made false statements during the purchase of a Bushmaster semiautomatic rifle and a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun from Gander Mountain in Henrietta, N.Y., in order to acquire the firearms on behalf of William Spengler, Jr. The indictment further alleges that the defendant gave the firearms to William Spengler with the knowledge that he was a convicted felon. The indictment also alleges that Nguyen herself unlawfully possessed the firearms at a time when she was an unlawful user of marijuana. 

            “While there is no allegation that this defendant was aware that William Spengler would kill two first responders, and seriously injure two others, the fact remains that the defendant stands accused of providing the guns that Spengler used for these purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Given the serious nature of these charges, our Office will push to prosecute this defendant as expeditiously as possible. This case should serve as a warning to any individual who attempts to facilitate the actions of a criminal that you too will be vigorously prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”     

            The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Webster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gerald Pickering, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley, Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joseph Anarumo, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Mark Koss, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn. 

            The fact that the defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.