Michael Anthony Rangel, a 43-year-old resident of Ogden, Utah, has been sentenced to 84 months in prison following his conviction for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr. also imposed three years of supervised release on Rangel.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that in July 2022, Rangel was found with a stolen Taurus PT111 G2 pistol during a traffic stop. Despite being aware of his status as a convicted felon and restrictions on firearm possession, he had the weapon and ammunition, which were subsequently confiscated by law enforcement.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti from the District of Utah. The case investigation was conducted by the Ogden Metro Gang Task Force.
Prosecution efforts were led by Special Assistant United States Attorney Branden B. Miles and Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Gough from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community members. Launched with an enhanced strategy on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, individuals can visit Justice.gov/PSN.
