AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

January 12, 2007

HAGERSTOWN MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

Baltimore, Maryland - Charles A. Spigler, age 39, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett enhanced Spigler’s sentence after finding that he was an armed career criminal based on his three prior felony convictions for crimes of violence or drug offenses.

According to the statement of facts presented to the court on October 27, 2006 at his guilty plea, on June 24, 2006, Charles Spigler asked Mickey Mankins to pawn a rifle for him. Mankins took a Marlin .22 caliber rifle to a pawn shop in Hagerstown and received $40. On July 24, 2006, Mankins and Spigler returned to the pawn shop and attempted to redeem the rifle.

Mankins, age 41, also of Hagerstown, pleaded guilty on November 7, 2006 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2007. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their investigative work, and commended Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Welsh, who is prosecuting the case.