James Michael Olshefskie, 55, of Pensacola, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury in Pensacola on May 7 for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of two unregistered firearm silencers. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Heekin said: “I am incredibly proud to deliver another win for the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, through which we are aggressively prosecuting the perpetrators of violent crime to keep our communities safe. This felon has demonstrated an outright refusal to follow the law, and so it is necessary to ensure he remains incarcerated to protect the law-abiding citizens of this District from his continued criminality.”
According to evidence presented at trial, United States Probation Officers visited Olshefskie's residence in Pensacola on September 11, 2025 as part of his federal post-conviction supervision. At that time, Olshefskie was on supervised release for a previous federal felony conviction from 2024 and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. During their visit, probation officers discovered ammunition and unregistered firearm silencers in his bedroom.
Olshefskie faces up to 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25 at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at repelling illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida enforces federal laws and protects civil rights across northern Florida; it prosecutes criminal violations and handles civil litigation on behalf of the United States while collaborating with other agencies through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood according to its official website.
