Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBANY, NEW YORK - A jury voted yesterday to convict Michael Bramer, Jr., age 32, of Saratoga County, New York, of providing a false statement to a licensed dealer in connection with the attempted purchase of a firearm.

 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Division.

 

Evidence presented during the 2-day trial established that on October 24, 2016, Bramer knowingly made a false statement on a Firearms Transaction Record (also known as an ATF Form 4473) at a store in Gloversville, New York, in connection with his attempt to buy a Savage .243 Axis rifle. 

 

In response to the question on ATF Form 4473 “Are you subject to a court order restraining you from harassing, stalking, or threatening . . . an intimate partner?” Bramer responded “No,” when he knew that 11 days earlier, on October 13, 2016, he was issued a Temporary Order of Protection in Malta Town Court ordering him to refrain from assault, harassment, stalking, threats and any criminal offense against an intimate partner.  Bramer’s court order stated that he was advised of the issuance and contents of the order and was personally served with the order by a Malta Town Court Judge, and both Bramer and the judge signed the order.

 

Bramer faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on December 10, 2018 by Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. 

 

This case was investigated by the ATF.  This case was prosecuted to indictment by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rabe and prosecuted at trial by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Giglio Suarez.