German National Faces Federal Charges for Firearm Violations

SACRAMENTO, CA—A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today charging Andreas Koertel, 46, of Rio Linda, with felony possession of a machine gun, felony possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the country, and misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to the indictment, on August 15, 2013, in Placer County, Koertel possessed two firearms: a Ruger, Model 10/22, .22-caliber rifle, and a LRB Arms, 7.62 x 39mm caliber machine gun. The indictment also alleges that Koertel knowingly possessed methamphetamine.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Placer County Sheriff’s Department; the Placer County Special Investigations Unit; the Rocklin Police Department; and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s Gang Suppression and Explosive Ordinance Units. Assistant United States Attorney Jill Thomas is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Koertel faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each felony count. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.