DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of New York

For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 26, 2014
William J. Hochul, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Barbara Burns

Greece Woman Pleads Guilty to Supplying Guns Used in Christmas Eve Shooting

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Dawn Nguyen, 25, of Greece, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge David G. Larimer, to knowingly making a false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms; selling and disposing of firearms to William Spengler, a known felon; and possession of firearms while being an unlawful user of marijuana.

“But for the actions of this defendant in illegally putting two guns into the hands of a known dangerous felon, the families of Michael Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka might have their son, father and husband still with them.”  “While today’s convictions cannot possibly bring these brave men back, or relieve the pain of the families and those wounded in the Christmas Eve attack, this defendant will in fact shortly receive her just punishment for all the harm she caused.”

The charges involve the purchase and disposition of the firearms that were used in the Christmas Eve shooting in December 2012 that resulted in the deaths of Webster Police Lieutenant Michael Chiapperini and West Webster Firefighter Tomasz Kaczowka, and seriously injured Firefighters Theodore Scardino and Joseph Hostetter. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000.00, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Noto, who is handling the case, stated that Nguyen made false statements during the purchase of a Bushmaster semiautomatic rifle and a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun at Gander Mountain in Henrietta, N.Y., in order to acquire those firearms on behalf of William Spengler, Jr. The defendant gave those firearms to Spengler with the knowledge that Spengler was a convicted felon. In addition, Nguyen unlawfully possessed the firearms at a time when she was an unlawful user of marijuana.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Webster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gerald Pickering, Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Cannon, New York Field Division, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Scott Crozier, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 28, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Larimer.

 

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New York Field Division