October 6, 2010
COLORADO SPRINGS FELON WHO POSSESSED FIREARM SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON
DENVER – Christopher Michael Bass, age 45, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced last week by Senior U.S. Tenth Circuit Court Judge David M. Ebel to serve 94 months (over 7 years) in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney John Walsh and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson announced. Bass was then ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release. Bass appeared at the hearing in custody, and was then remanded into the custody of U.S. Marshals.
Christopher Michael Bass was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 18, 2009. He was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm on July 2, 2010, following a five day jury trial. He was acquitted of a second felon in possession charge. Bass was sentenced by Judge Ebel on September 28, 2010.
According to the government’s sentencing statement, on February 25, 2009, law enforcement officers received information that Christopher Bass may be in possession of firearms and distributing narcotics. As part of the investigation, a traffic stop was conducted which resulted in Bass being taken into custody. During the traffic stop officers found a glass pipe used to smoke Methamphetamine. Later officers lawfully searched a trailer belonging to an associate of Bass. Inside they found a small black computer bag containing a Smith and Wesson, Model 66, .357 caliber revolver. Officers also found numerous drug paraphernalia. It was then revealed that Bass stored other firearms at a different location. A lawful search of a storage shed resulted in officers finding two rifles, a Remington 300 sniper rifle, and a Marlin .22 caliber rifle. Bass had prior convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and second degree burglary, both from 1991 in St. Louis, Missouri. It is against the law for people convicted of a felony to possess a firearm.
“This sentence should serve as a reminder – convicted felons are not allowed to possess firearms, ammunition, or explosives. If they do, they will face criminal consequences,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.
“This investigation is an excellent example of the team work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson. “We will continue to combine our resources to protect our citizens and make our communities a safer place to live.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Bass was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kurt Bohn and Ryan Bergsieker.
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