Watertown Man Charged with Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Rafael Rondon, age 23, of Watertown, New York was arraigned today in federal court in Syracuse on an indictment charging him with possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun at his residence, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Rafael Rondon and his mother, Maryann Mooney-Rondon, 55, of Watertown, New York, both also appeared in court on a criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia containing the following charges stemming from the January 6, 2021 incident at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Theft of Government Property, 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 and 2 (Misdemeanor)

Obstruction of an Official Proceeding, 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) (Felony)

Entering/Remaining a Restricted Building, 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(1) (Misdemeanor)

Disorderly Conduct in a Restricted Building, 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(2) (Misdemeanor)

Entering/Remaining the Gallery of Congress, 40 U.S.C. § 5104(e)(2)(B) (Misdemeanor)

Entering/Remaining in Certain Rooms of Capitol Building, 40 U.S.C. § 5104 (e)(2)(C) (Misdemeanor)

Disorderly Conduct in Capitol Building, 40 U.S.C § 5104(e)(2)(D) (Misdemeanor)

Both Rafael Rondon and Maryann Mooney-Rondon appeared today in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley-Dancks, and were released pending further court proceedings.

The charge against Rafael Rondon alleging his possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 

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 charges in the indictment and criminal complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

These cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Capitol Police, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the New York State Police. The indictment charging Rafael Rondon in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Green and Richard Southwick. The case involving the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.