MADISON, WIS. — A Chippewa Falls man is headed to federal prison after being caught with a loaded arsenal despite a felony record. Michael A. Raskie, 36, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to three years behind bars for possession of firearms by a convicted felon — a crime uncovered during a routine shoplifting stop that spiraled into a dangerous discovery.
On September 22, 2018, Raskie was spotted stealing merchandise from a Menards store in Eau Claire. When confronted by a loss prevention officer, he consented to a search of his truck. But before the retrieval began, police were called. Officers knew Raskie was a convicted felon on probation — a status that legally barred him from owning any firearm. As he reached for the stolen goods, the officer noticed a rifle case in plain view.
Inside the truck, Eau Claire police found far more than stolen tools. They seized an AR-15 rifle, a .45 caliber handgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, a homemade suppressor, a bump stock, and a stash of methamphetamine. The presence of high-powered weapons modified for rapid fire raised immediate red flags, turning a petty theft into a federal firearms case under Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Raskie pleaded guilty on January 14, 2019, but pushed for leniency — requesting only 18 months in prison. Judge Conley denied the request, citing the lethality of the weapons and the deliberate modifications. “These weren’t just guns — they were engineered for violence,” the judge stated, emphasizing the danger posed by the suppressor and bump stock.
The case was investigated by the Eau Claire Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow as part of the U.S. Justice Department’s nationwide effort to crack down on illegal gun possession and reduce violent crime through Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Raskie will serve three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Federal authorities say cases like this prove that even low-level offenses can expose far greater threats — and that felons with access to militarized weapons won’t be treated lightly.
Related Federal Cases
- Madison Felon Gets 5 Years for Illegal Gun Possession · Wisconsin
- Curtis Green, 39, Sentenced to 69 Months for Firearm Possession · Wisconsin
- Briante Banks Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years for Possessing Stolen Firearm as Felon · Wisconsin
- Felon Caught with Firearm, Gun Smarts Go Up in Flames · Wisconsin
- Salina Man Sentenced for Unlawful Gun Possession · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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