Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Ammunition

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Derbie Michel, age 32, formerly of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Michel, who has three prior felony convictions, admitted that he possessed five rounds of ammunition on October 15, 2022. According to court documents filed by the Government, Michel threw these rounds of ammunition from a car while fleeing from members of the Troy Police Department on October 15, 2022.  According to court documents, he also threw a privately made firearm, or “ghost gun,” from the car during the same pursuit. 

Michel faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., on June 20, 2024.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Troy Police Department, investigated the case.  The U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) assisted in the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Allen J. Vickey are prosecuting the case.