U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe | U.S. Department of Justice
Michael John Pellicione, a 76-year-old firearms dealer from Port St. Lucie, Florida, has admitted guilt in a federal court to charges related to the improper documentation of firearm sales. On December 18, Pellicione pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment for selling several firearms "off the books," violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(5), which mandates that firearms dealers maintain accurate records of sales.
As a federal firearms licensee (FFL), Pellicione was required by law to document every firearm transaction in an acquisition and disposition (A&D) record. This includes details such as the type, make, model, caliber, serial number of the firearm, as well as information about both the seller and buyer or transferee. However, Pellicione failed to record five such transactions.
Pellicione's sentencing date is yet to be determined. He could face up to five years in prison once sentenced by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami; and Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division.
The case was investigated by HSI Fort Pierce and ATF Fort Pierce with Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger handling prosecution duties.
For further details on this case under number 24-cr-14055, interested parties can visit either http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov for related documents and information.
