Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Ammunition
ALBANY, N.Y. — Derbie Michel, 32, formerly of Troy, pled guilty today to illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement.
Michel, who has three prior felony convictions, admitted that he possessed five rounds of ammunition on Oct. 15, 2022. According to court documents filed by the Government, Michel threw these rounds of ammunition from a car while fleeing from members of the Troy Police Department on Oct. 15, 2022. According to court documents, he also threw a privately made firearm, or “ghost gun,” from the car during the same pursuit.
Michel faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years when he is sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., on June 20, 2024. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Troy Police Department, investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Allen J. Vickey are prosecuting the case.
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