New York Man Charged in Manhattan Federal Court for Illegal Possession of Weapons

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Joseph Anarumo, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Eric Timberman, the Acting United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York (USMS), announced today the filing of federal criminal charges against Antonio Olmeda. Olmeda, who was arrested by the New York City Police Department in December 2011 in connection with his alleged attempt to shoot two police officers, faces federal charges for being a convicted felon in possession of various firearms and for possessing unregistered machine guns and an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. Olmeda, who remains in state custody, was charged in a six-count indictment on August 14, 2013, and was presented yesterday in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. Francis, IV.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “As alleged, Antonio Olmeda, a convicted felon, possessed a veritable arsenal including multiple machine guns and a sawed-off shotgun. Olmeda, who has been separately charged in the state for shooting at police officers, was prohibited from having any firearms much less the kind of firepower alleged in the indictment at his disposal. This office will continue to work with our partners to remove firearms from the hands of convicted criminals as the law and public safety demand.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos said, “As alleged, Antonio Olmeda illegally amassed an arsenal of weapons, to include semi-automatic handguns, machine guns, and a shotgun. Gone undetected, these weapons, in the hands of a convicted felon, posed a danger not only to law enforcement but to the unsuspecting public who may have come in contact with Olmeda. His arrest demonstrates the ongoing commitment by the FBI and our law enforcement partners to keep the public safe by removing firearms from individuals who are not authorized to use or possess them.”

ATF Special Agent in Charge Joseph Anarumo, Jr. said, “The unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon is a federal violation that ATF takes very seriously as it threatens the safety of our city. ATF has had a long and productive relationship with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in combating violent crime. Consequently, and as a united front, the arrest of these types of alleged violent offenders is now much more commonplace, making the collective goal of a safer community an attainable reality.”

Acting United States Marshal Eric Timberman said, “The Olmeda case is a shining example of the U.S. Marshals Service working closely with all agencies, federal, state, and local, to ensure the safety of our community and the administration of justice. These law enforcement partners will continue to work closely together in an effort to continue to take criminals and illegal weapons off our streets.”

According to the allegations in the ndictment filed in Manhattan federal court, Olmeda, a convicted felon, possessed the following firearms, all of which have been seized by the government:

• Springfield Armory Ultra Compact .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun
• Taurus 85 Ultralite .38-caliber revolver
• Olympic Arms PCR03 .223-caliber fully-automatic rifle
• Smith & Wesson .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol
• Beretta 92SB Compact 9-mm Luger semi-automatic pistol
• Cobray Industries M-11 9-mm Luger fully-automatic pistol
• Remington model Mohawk 600 .308-caliber rifle
• Roggio Arsenal model RA-15 rifle receiver/frame
• Interarms rifle
• Springfield Armory model 1911A1 .45-caliber pistol
• Springfield Armory model 1911A1 .45-caliber pistol
• Springfield Armory model 1911A1 .45-caliber pistol
• Sig Sauer model SP 2022 9mm-caliber pistol
• Taurus model PT140 Millenium .40-caliber pistol
• Smith & Wesson model 4006 .40-caliber pistol
• Star Bonifacio Echeverria model Firestar 9mm-caliber pistol
• Charter Arms model Police Undercover .32-caliber revolver
• Walther model PPK/S .380-caliber pistol
• Vulcan Arms model V15 7.62x39mm-caliber machinegun
• Norinco AK-type 7.62x39mm-caliber machinegun
• Mossberg model 500A 12-gauge shotgun

Olmeda, 55, of New York, New York, is charged with three counts of possession of firearms by a convicted felon, two counts of possession of unregistered machine guns, and one count of possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Olmeda faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.

In addition, Olmeda is separately charged by the state with two counts of attempted murder in the first degree, two counts of attempted assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and two counts of attempted assault in the first degree, all arising from his alleged attempt to shoot two police officers in Queens, New York, on December 2, 2011.

The charges and arrest of Olmeda the result of the close cooperative efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Joint Terrorism Task Force—which principally consists of agents and detectives of the FBI and the New York City Police Department (NYPD)—the ATF, and the USMS. Mr. Bharara also thanked the NYPD and the Yonkers Police Department for their ongoing assistance.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being handled jointly by the Office’s Violent Crimes Unit and Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Maimin and John P. Cronan are in charge of the prosecution.