Christopher L. Morgan, 31, of Schenectady, New York, is facing federal charges after being indicted on a count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charge, handed down last week, marks the latest chapter in a criminal case rooted in a 2016 incident that has now resurfaced with federal consequences.
Morgan was arraigned in Albany following the unsealing of the indictment, which alleges he possessed a .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver and 10 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition on September 6, 2016. The weapon and ammo were allegedly recovered during a law enforcement investigation, though no violent incident was reported at the time of recovery. Despite the years that have passed, federal authorities moved swiftly to bring charges under laws prohibiting felons from owning or possessing firearms.
U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albany Field Office, confirmed the indictment. They emphasized that the charge is an accusation and that Morgan is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence trail and federal jurisdiction over firearms violations have positioned the case for prosecution in U.S. District Court.
If convicted, Morgan faces up to 10 years in federal prison and as many as 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. The actual sentence, if any, will be determined by a federal judge weighing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, the nature of the offense, and Morgan’s criminal history. The stakes are high: a conviction would cement his status as a repeat offender under federal gun laws.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Task Force, a multi-agency unit pooling resources from federal, state, and local agencies. Key contributors include FBI Special Agents, the Schenectady Police Department, and the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. The collaboration underscores the ongoing emphasis on removing firearms from individuals prohibited from possessing them.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting the case. Morgan remains in custody pending trial, with court dates expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks. As the federal case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder: in the eyes of the law, a felon with a gun is a threat that won’t be ignored — even years after the fact.
Related Federal Cases
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- Felon Nabbed at Peace Bridge with Gun · Washington
- Justin Vazquez Convicted of Felon Gun Possession in Buffalo · New York
- Buffalo Felon Lightfoot Gets 24 Months for Gun Stash · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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