Federal prosecutors in the District of Delaware announced that Episcopo entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment after being convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in Delaware.
According to court documents filed in United States v. Episcopo (Case No. 1:04-cr-00040), law enforcement officers recovered an AR-15 style rifle from Episcopo’s possession during an investigation in Delaware. A subsequent background check revealed that Episcopo had previously been convicted of drug trafficking, making it a federal crime for Episcopo to possess any firearm or ammunition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
The investigation began when local law enforcement received information that Episcopo was in possession of firearms. Federal agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) became involved after confirming Episcopo’s status as a prohibited person under federal law. The agents conducted a thorough investigation that included surveillance, witness interviews, and the execution of search warrants.
During the search, investigators recovered an AR-15 style rifle along with ammunition. Ballistic analysis confirmed that the firearms were operable, and forensic examination linked the weapons to Episcopo. The evidence was presented to a federal grand jury, which returned an indictment charging Episcopo with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Mary Perez imposed the sentence after considering the applicable sentencing guidelines, Episcopo’s criminal history, and the circumstances of the offense. The court noted the serious public safety risk posed by convicted felons who illegally possess firearms and emphasized the need for a sentence that would protect the community.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, the court ordered a fine of $16,000 and 5 years of supervised release. As a condition of supervised release, Episcopo is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition and must submit to regular searches by probation officers.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Jackson prosecuted the case. “Keeping illegal guns out of the hands of convicted felons is essential to public safety,” Karen Jackson said. “This office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute individuals who illegally possess firearms.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) emphasized that the investigation and prosecution of firearms offenses by prohibited persons remains a top priority for federal law enforcement. Officials noted that the illegal possession of firearms by convicted felons contributes significantly to violent crime in communities across Delaware.
Under federal law, there is no parole in the federal system, and Episcopo must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence imposed. This case was part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing effort to reduce gun violence through the aggressive prosecution of firearms offenses.
Related Federal Cases
- Robb, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Delaware 2006 · Delaware
- Sinclair, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Delaware 2008 · Delaware
- Barnett, Illegal Firearms Possession, Delaware 2005 · Delaware
- Saggese, Unlawful Sale of Firearms, Delaware 2004 · Delaware
- Zacarias-Bamaca, Armed Career Criminal, Delaware 2005 · Delaware
