SYRACUSE, NY – Rafael Rondon, 25, of Watertown, New York, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today to 14 months for illegally possessing a brutally short, unregistered sawed-off shotgun. The weapon, an Iver Johnson’s Arms & Cycle Works 12-gauge, was deemed unlawful due to its barrel and overall length falling below federal requirements – and its lack of registration. This isn’t the only legal trouble brewing for Rondon.
According to court documents, Rondon admitted to owning the unregistered firearm. Federal authorities confirmed the shotgun’s barrel measured less than 18 inches, and its overall length was under 26 inches, violating National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record regulations. Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. didn’t just hand down the prison term; he also ordered a three-year stretch of supervised release after Rondon serves his time, and demanded the forfeiture of the illegal weapon.
But the sawed-off shotgun isn’t Rondon’s only federal charge. The Watertown man also pleaded guilty in December of last year to obstruction of an official proceeding in Washington, D.C. – a felony directly tied to his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol Building. That sentencing is scheduled for September 12th, and carries a significantly heavier potential penalty: up to 20 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine, and another three years of supervised release.
The case in the Northern District of New York was spearheaded by the FBI Albany Joint Terrorism Task Force, with crucial support from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New York State Police. The investigation highlights the continued federal focus on illegal firearms and those who attempt to circumvent gun laws. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Green and Richard Southwick were responsible for prosecuting the case.
This sentencing marks the latest development in a complex case, linking a local weapons violation to a nationally significant event. Rondon’s actions on January 6th, combined with his possession of an illegal firearm, paint a picture of a man willing to flout the law on multiple fronts. The September sentencing in D.C. will determine the full extent of his punishment for storming the Capitol.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Carla B. Freedman, continues to emphasize its commitment to prosecuting individuals who endanger public safety through illegal firearms and those who undermine democratic institutions. The combined sentences Rondon faces reflect the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating both crimes.
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