Nicolas Allen Harms, Illegal Firearm Possession, Oregon 2017

A Gresham man has been sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Nicolas Allen Harms, 26, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Marco A. Hernandez on September 6, 2017, to 96 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Harms had previously pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 992(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, in late 2015, Gresham Police Officers received information that Harms was selling heroin. Using a confidential informant, officers conducted a controlled buy of heroin from Harms. On December 8, 2015, officers executed a search warrant on Harms’ hotel room and found approximately 35 grams of heroin, 17 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded .357 revolver, digital scales and drug packaging material. Officers also found 3.5 grams of methamphetamine and $440 in cash on the defendant’s person.

Following the search of the hotel room, officers developed information that Harms possessed a storage unit. A subsequent search of the unit resulted in the recovery of a short-barreled .22 caliber rifle, a shotgun and paperwork and materials related to his drug dealing. Harms was arrested and indicted in federal court. He later admitted to being a felon and illegally possessing the three recovered firearms: an Amadeo Rossi .357 caliber revolver, a Winchester 12 gauge shotgun and a Ruger .22 caliber rifle.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Gresham Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon and was prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The exact criminal charges against Harms are being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 992(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The investigation was conducted in Gresham, Oregon, and the case was prosecuted in federal court. Harms was sentenced on September 6, 2017, to 96 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

The case highlights the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to combat crime and bring perpetrators to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-or/pr/gresham-man-sentenced-96-months-federal-prison-illegal-firearm-possession