OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA
Sharon L. Potter
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist
February 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bunker Hill Resident Sentenced to 17-1/2 Years
on Firearms Violations
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 38 year old Bunker Hill, West Virginia, resident was sentenced on February 24, 2009, in United States District Court in Martinsburg by Chief Judge John Preston Bailey.
United States Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that MICHAEL JAY BRACKETT was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment to be followed by five years supervised release. BRACKETT was convicted October 2008 after a one-day trial of conspiracy to possess and sell stolen firearms and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence at trial indicated that from May 2008 through July 2008, BRACKETT, a convicted felon, conspired together with co-defendant and roommate, Michael Scott Crum, to possess and sell stolen firearms. Five firearms (which had been stolen during a residential burglary that occurred in Berkeley County in March 2008) along with various caliber of stolen ammunition were recovered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives during its investigation. During the execution of a federal search warrant on BRACKETT’s home on June 10, 2008, agents located another firearm.
BRACKETT had been convicted of three prior felonies, including 1) second degree murder (Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia; 2) unlawful wounding (Circuit Court of Harrison County, West Virginia); and 3) assault and battery on a law enforcement officer (Winchester, Virginia, Circuit Court). These three convictions made him eligible to be sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
BRACKETT is in federal custody.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin K. Reisenweber and Paul T. Camilletti. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Charles Town Police Department; and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.
