Jamestown Man Pleads Guity To Gun Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Raymond VanBuskirk, 44, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.  The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2016, the defendant moved two rifles, one shotgun, and over one thousand rounds of .223 caliber ammunition from his home to another location for safekeeping. VanBuskirk retained a third rifle at his home, which was recovered by federal agents on June 29, 2016. The defendant has a prior New York State felony conviction for sale of a controlled substance and was prohibited from legally possessing of firearms and ammunition.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. before Chief Judge Geraci.