Benjamin Wheeler, a 20-year-old resident of Norwich, New York, has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison for possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, along with Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI, and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's New York Field Division.

Wheeler pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing a Spikes Tactical AR-15 style rifle with a barrel length of less than sixteen inches at his apartment on August 6, 2024. The firearm was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

In addition to the prison sentence, Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd ordered Wheeler to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.

The investigation into Wheeler's case involved multiple agencies including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New York Police Department (NYPD), and New York State Police. The Chenango County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown prosecuted the case.