Two Felons Get Max Sentence for Illegal Possession of Firearms During Home Invasion Style Armed Robbery

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that two Anchorage men have each been sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms during a 2017 home invasion style armed robbery. 

Manee Mulifai, 24, of Anchorage, was sentenced on Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess to serve 10 years in federal prison, after having pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  His co-defendant, Matthew Adrian Colding, aka “Money,” 24, of Anchorage, was previously sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the same charge. 

According to court documents, on April 21, 2017, the Alaska State Troopers received reports of shots fired at a Wasilla residence.  The three occupants of the house (B.W., J.H., and F.A.) reported that an unknown female came to the door asking for help with a broken down car.  Shortly thereafter, Colding kicked in the door armed with a handgun.  Once inside, Colding asked for his “shit” and his money.  Colding then started to pistol whip B.W. and told J.H. to sit down or he would be killed.  F.A. ran out of the house but was chased down by both Colding and Mulifai. 

The robbery then led to a shootout between the two defendants, and the victims inside the residence.  Colding was shot several times and collapsed in the front yard.  Mulifai returned fire through the front window of the house before he fled the scene.  Prior to law enforcement arriving, Colding crawled to a nearby planter where he attempted to hide his firearm. The investigation revealed that Colding fired four rounds, Mulifai fired 10 rounds, and B.W. fired 10 rounds.  During the robbery, a safe and two firearms were stolen from the home. Mulifai was found with the two stolen firearms five days later during a visit to his state probation officer. 

The investigation further revealed that Mulifai and Colding are associated with the “Fight Squad” street gang.  Mulifai has a previous felony conviction for Burglary in the Second Degree, and Colding has a previous felony conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery in the First Degree.  Because of their felony convictions, Mulifai and Colding were both prohibited from possessing firearms. 

The Alaska State Troopers (AST), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Taylor.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.