A New York man has pleaded guilty to straw purchasing a shotgun used in a brazen attack outside Temple Israel in Albany County.
Andrew Miller, 38, of Schenectady, New York, admitted to conspiring with Mufid Fawaz Alkhader to illegally purchase a Kel-Tec 12-gauge pump shotgun in November 2023.
According to court documents, Miller and Alkhader hatched a plan to deceive a firearms dealer in Albany County, claiming that Miller was the actual buyer of the shotgun when in reality, Alkhader was the true intended recipient.
Miller lied on the Firearms Transaction Record (ATF Form 4473) submitted to the gun shop, stating that he was the true purchaser of the shotgun, when in fact, Alkhader was the one who needed the gun. The shotgun was then transferred to Alkhader, who allegedly used it in the attack outside Temple Israel on December 7, 2023.
The same shotgun purchased by Miller and given to Alkhader is the one allegedly used in the attack, which has sent shockwaves through the community.
Miller is facing up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years. He will be sentenced on October 18, 2024, by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.
Alkhader, who is charged with two firearms crimes, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the ATF, and the Albany Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuting the case. Miller has been released on conditions pending sentencing.
This brazen attack outside Temple Israel has raised concerns about gun safety and the need for stricter gun laws in New York. The community is still reeling from the aftermath of the attack, and many are calling for tougher penalties for those who engage in straw purchasing and other firearms crimes.
The case highlights the ongoing struggle to combat gun violence and the need for increased cooperation between law enforcement agencies to prevent such crimes from happening in the first place.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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