A Phoenix man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for selling a semi-automatic rifle to a buyer online, despite being a felon.
On Feb. 11, 2019, Ryan Patrick Michell, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Hon. G. Murray Snow to 30 months’ incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release.
On Sept. 27, 2018, a federal jury found Michell guilty of two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the FBI, Michell sold a Norinco SKS 7.62 x 39 rifle, along with four high-capacity round magazines, and one-hundred rounds of 7.62×39 ammunition to a buyer on backpage.com on Nov. 27, 2017.
The sale was part of an investigation into Michell’s online activities, which began in October 2017 after an attempted suspicious purchase of potassium cyanide from an online marketplace.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Service, Tempe Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Michell was not legally permitted to possess firearms or ammunition due to three prior felony convictions in the State of Arizona.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Brook handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-01690-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-014_Michell
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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