Ridgeway Man Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing 14 Firearms

Frederick J. Zirkelbach, 48, of Ridgeway, Illinois, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Benton to an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment, returned by a Federal Grand Jury on April 2nd, alleged that Zirkelbach was found to be in possession of 14 firearms and ammunition on March 9, 2013, following the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Ridgeway. Prior to that date Zirkelbach had been convicted of two felony offenses which made it illegal under federal law for him to possess firearms or ammunition.

Zirkelbach faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release to follow his incarceration. The firearms and ammunition he illegally possessed are also subject to forfeiture to the United States.

Zirkelbach has been held without bond in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest on the federal charges. He was returned to the Marshal’s custody to await sentencing which was set for September 20th at 10:30 a.m. at the United States District Courthouse in Benton.

The case was investigated by the District 19 office of the Illinois State Police and the Carmi office of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Ridgeway Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.