Columbia County Felon Indicted on Gun Charges

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Mikelinich, age 52, of Ancram, New York, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with possessing firearms as a felon.

The announcement was made by Acting 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).

The indictment charges Mikelinich with possessing a 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun and a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle after having been convicted of a felony offense. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Mikelinich was arraigned today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and detained pending a trial before Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue.

This case is being investigated by the ATF and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.