Emoru Oboke Obbanya, Possessing a Destructive Device, California 2013

Berkeley Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing a Destructive Device

San Francisco, CA - In a shocking case of destructive device possession, Emoru Oboke Obbanya, a Berkeley resident, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his crimes.

Obbanya was found guilty of possessing a destructive device, specifically a flare gun that had been converted into an operable .38 caliber handgun, with no serial number and unregistered. The gun was discovered in his bedroom during a search warrant served by the Berkeley Police Department in July 2009.

The discovery was made as part of a joint investigation by the ATF and the FBI, with the assistance of the Berkeley Police Department. Obbanya pleaded guilty to counts one and four of the superseding indictment, admitting to possessing explosive components and a converted .38 caliber handgun.

The charges against Obbanya were brought forth by a federal grand jury, which indicted him in September 2011 on a charge of possessing a firearm not identified by a serial number, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(i). The superseding indictment added additional charges, including possession of a firearm in the form of components from which a destructive device may be readily assembled, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d).

Chief District Court Judge Claudia Wilken handed down the sentence, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Caputo. The case highlights the importance of joint investigations and collaboration between law enforcement agencies to prevent and prosecute violent crimes.

Emoru Oboke Obbanya, 27 months in prison, for possessing a destructive device. The case serves as a reminder of the seriousness of such crimes and the consequences for those who engage in them.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Emoru Oboke Obbanya, Exact Criminal Charges: Possessing a destructive device, City and State: Berkeley, CA, Exact Date: March 12, 2013, Sentence or Outcome: 27 months in prison.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/berkeley-man-sentenced-prison-possessing-destructive-device