Angelo Pollino, Gun Possession, New York 2023

JAMESTOWN, NY – Angelo Pollino, 35, is headed to federal prison for 78 months after being sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara for illegally possessing a firearm. The case stems from a 2019 burglary where Pollino and two accomplices stole weapons and then used stolen credit cards to fuel a drug habit.

According to court documents, Pollino and his crew targeted a home in the Town of Ellicott, NY on January 24, 2019. They didn’t just steal valuables; they made off with a deadly trio of handguns: a .380 caliber pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, and a Glock pistol, alongside the victim’s bank and credit cards. The brazen thieves immediately put the stolen cards to work, racking up charges across New York and Pennsylvania.

But the guns weren’t kept for protection. Pollino quickly traded the .380 pistol and .38 caliber revolver for heroin, turning stolen property into narcotics. This act, combined with his prior criminal history, sealed his fate. Pollino was already a convicted felon, having served time in Chautauqua County Court after being found guilty of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and Burglary in the Third Degree back in January 2012 – a one to three-year sentence.

That previous conviction legally barred Pollino from possessing any firearms. The ATF, leading a multi-agency investigation, built the case that ultimately led to his sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was joined by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jamestown Police Department, and the Ellicott Police Department in bringing Pollino to justice.

“This sentencing sends a clear message,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito of the ATF’s New York Field Division. “We will relentlessly pursue those who illegally possess firearms, especially individuals with prior convictions. These weapons often end up in the hands of violent criminals, and we are committed to keeping our communities safe.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti prosecuted the case. The 78-month sentence reflects the seriousness of Pollino’s crimes, a combination of burglary, theft, and the dangerous act of a convicted felon possessing firearms. The investigation highlights the interconnectedness of property crime and drug trafficking, a common thread in many of the cases Grimy Times covers.

Related Federal Cases