DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, August 6, 2014
William J. Hochul, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Barbara Burns

Elma Man Sentenced on Gun Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Bernard T. Grucza, 38, of Elma, N.Y., who was convicted of possession of a firearm by a person subject to as domestic violence order of protection, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny. The defendant was also ordered to pay $223,000 in restitution to his former employer Toys R Us. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that the defendant made false written statements to Big Daddy Guns in order to obtain a Ruger .380 caliber pistol. Between July 13, 2013 and October 16, 2013, the defendant possessed the pistol despite being the subject of a restraining order issued by Elma Town Court. In addition, Grucza made false statements to Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that he had destroyed the pistol and thrown out the parts when in fact he had not.       

The defendant stole over $200,000 worth of merchandise and cash from Toys R Us and sold the merchandise on eBay.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge James S. Higgins, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, and the Hamburg Police Department, under the direction of Michael Williams. 

 

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New York Field Division