A Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Florida has been sentenced to prison for selling firearms ‘off-the-books’. Michael John Pellicione, 76, of Port St. Lucie, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore to 15 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $7,500 fine.
Pellicione, who owned Mike’s Gun Shop, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to five counts of failure of a firearms dealer to keep proper record of a sale, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 922(b)(5) and 914(a)(1)(D).
The investigation, conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), revealed that Pellicione sold firearms without recording the transactions in his acquisition and disposition (A&D) record. He also failed to conduct background checks, log the firearms in his A&D book, and require buyers to fill out ATF Forms 4473.
Pellicione admitted to taking pictures of the firearms and sending them to interested customers, without properly recording the sales. He also failed to record the name, age, and address of the purchasers, as required by law.
According to federal law, an FFL must record all firearms received or made, and indicate where each firearm is located – whether it is still in the FFL’s inventory or where it was sold or transferred. The A&D book must also include details such as the type of firearm, make, model, caliber, and serial number, as well as the date and address of the person who received and sold the firearm.
The case was investigated by HSI Fort Pierce and ATF Fort Pierce Field Office, and was prosecuted by Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael John Pellicione, Failing to Keep Proper Records of Sales, Florida 2024 · Alabama
- Erhan John Er, Firearms Smuggling, Florida 2022 · Alabama
- Shem Wayne Alexander, Firearms Smuggling, Florida 2023 · Virginia
- Shem Wayne Alexander, Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms, Florida 2023 · Georgia
- Shem Wayne Alexander, Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms, Florida 2023 · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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