Nicholas Coia, Felon in Possession of a Shotgun, NY 2018

Nicholas Coia, 31, of Greece, NY, is off the streets — but not behind bars — after admitting he was a felon in possession of a shotgun and ammunition on March 28, 2018. The conviction stems from a raid at 11 St. Pierre Drive, where police found the weapons in a home under Coia’s control. Despite the serious charge, Coia walked out of court with a sentence of three years’ probation.

U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced the outcome today, confirming that Coia was legally barred from possessing any firearm due to a prior felony conviction for Driving While Intoxicated. That DUI, elevated to a felony under federal law, stripped Coia of his right to own or handle guns — a rule he violated the moment he took hold of the shotgun.

Feds didn’t act alone. The Greece Police Department, led by Chief Patrick D. Phelan, teamed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, to build the case. Evidence gathered during the investigation left Coia with little room to maneuver — resulting in a guilty plea handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher.

Judge Charles J. Siragusa, presiding in U.S. District Court, handed down the probation term without prison time, a move that’s sparked quiet debate among law enforcement insiders. While prosecutors emphasized the defendant’s criminal history, they ultimately accepted a non-custodial sentence, likely due to the specific circumstances and lack of violence tied to the offense.

The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s flagship initiative to slam violent crime through targeted enforcement. PSN focuses on repeat offenders and illegal gun possession, partnering with local agencies to disrupt access to firearms by those with violent or felony records.

Coia now faces strict supervision for the next three years. Violate a single term, and he could be looking at federal prison. For now, the message from the feds is clear: even without jail time, felons caught with guns are in the crosshairs — and the trigger is already being squeezed.