Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

DENVER – Fort Collins resident and former Front Range Community College student David Aaron Moscow, age 30, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Fort Collins authorities announced.  Moscow came to the attention of law enforcement after telling a clinical neuropsychologist that he planned to shoot people at Front Range Community College and burn down the school.  Firearms were found in Moscow’s home and vehicle, along with a large amount of ammunition found in his home.

According to federal court documents, David Moscow was a student at Front Range Community College in Fort Collins in 2012, but left voluntarily.  After leaving he made inappropriate calls to college personnel.  He also posted questionable information online about the school.  In October 2015, Moscow went back to the school in an attempt to re-enroll.  During that process he was questioned about his former inappropriate conduct.  After the meeting at the community college Moscow met with several clinical neuropsychologists, telling one of them he had desires to shoot people at the school and burn it down.  This prompted a neuropsychologist to contact law enforcement. 

An investigation into Moscow revealed that he had a prior felony conviction for Aggravated DUI in 2007 in Arizona.  While the neuropsychologist put a Mental Health Hold on Moscow, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence.  Moscow was taken into custody on October 23, 2015 for his own safety based on the mental health hold.  Also on that date, Fort Collins Police Services executed a search warrants at Moscow’s residence and in his car.  They found an AR-15, fully loaded with a 30 round clips in his bedroom closet.  They also found hundreds of rounds of ammunition.  In addition, a Glock .40 caliber handgun was found in his vehicle.  Moscow was also in possession of controlled substances, namely hydrocodone and Ecstasy.

Moscow, possessing the weapons after his Arizona felony conviction, was a felon in possession of a firearm.  He was charged in federal court by Criminal Complaint on November 2, 2015.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2015.  The defendant has made his initial appearance, where he was advised of the charges against him.  He was advised of his rights, and was arraigned, entering a not guilty plea.  U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe ordered Moscow to be held in the custody of U.S. Marshals without bond.

In addition to the federal charges, Moscow was charged in Fort Collins by the Larimer County District Attorney with multiple violations of state law, including Felony Menacing (F5), Violation of Bail Bond Conditions (F6), Violation of a Protection Order (M1), Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender (F6), Prohibiting a Large Capacity Magazine During A Crime (F6), Possession of a Controlled Substance (DF4), and Interference with a School-Credible Threat (M1).  It has been determined that in order to facilitate the federal prosecution of the firearm charges that the District Attorney’s Office is going to dismiss both the Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender charge as well as the charge Prohibiting a Large Capacity Magazine During a Crime.  Larimer County District Attorney’s Office will retain the remaining charges.

If convicted of being a felon in possession, the defendant faces not more than 10 years, and up to a $250,000 fine, per count for each of the two counts.

The Moscow case was investigated by Fort Collins Police Services and the ATF with support from Front Range Community College Security.  The matter also received substantial attention from Larimer County District Attorney Clifford Riedel’s Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Weber.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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