Decorated Silver Star Veteran, POW Sentenced to 7 Years for a Gun He Bought 40 Years Ago

[rangerrebew]

Decorated Silver Star Veteran, POW Sentenced to 7 Years for a Gun He Bought 40 Years Ago

A decorated Vietnam veteran's home was raided, and he was sentenced to 7 years in prison because he bought an antique gun 40 years ago.
Matt Agorist — October 20, 2018

 

Plano, TX — Alfred Pick served his country honorably. After going on over 100 combat missions in Vietnam, Pick was given the military’s third highest honor, the Silver Star. He was also captured and did time as a POW. Now, after escaping a cage in Vietnam 40 years ago, the country he laid down his life for is throwing him back in a cage—over a decades-old gun.

At a gun show 40 years ago, Pick bought the rare M-14 rifle, similar to the one he used in Vietnam while he served in the Army. He put this rifle in a case, along with 14 other extremely rare guns and proudly displayed them in his Texas home for four decades.

“This gun was very rare at that time it was rare to see one so he instantly had a connection to it,” said Pick’s attorney Ryne Sandel. “Over the course of his life he and his wife and collected about 14 weapons, many of them were collectors items.”

https://freedomoutpost.com/decorated-silver-star-veteran-pow-sentenced-to-7-years-for-a-gun-he-bought-40-years-ago/

[endicom]

Probably because M-14s are full-auto capable.

But this is why no law should be absolute. A slap on the wrist would have sufficed.

[SZonian]

In light of the link posted below with the additional information, I'm changing part of my post...

BATF = (still) jackbooted thugs.

To the judge who sentenced him = 

And to the douche who turned him in...

[INVAR]

Probably because M-14s are full-auto capable.

But this is why no law should be absolute. A slap on the wrist would have sufficed.

No.  The Beast must make very public examples of such people so as to ensure and instill the fear necessary to obtain compliance with whatever it declares.

[skeeter]

Probably because M-14s are full-auto capable.

But this is why no law should be absolute. A slap on the wrist would have sufficed.

Government bureaucrats treat any individual who is not dependent upon them as an enemy.

Hopefully the publicity this guy's case is getting will cause his case to be re-evaluated.

[Free Vulcan]

This article needs alot more detail than it has.

[sneakypete]

Decorated Silver Star Veteran, POW Sentenced to 7 Years for a Gun He Bought 40 Years Ago

A decorated Vietnam veteran's home was raided, and he was sentenced to 7 years in prison because he bought an antique gun 40 years ago.
Matt Agorist — October 20, 2018

 

Plano, TX — Alfred Pick served his country honorably. After going on over 100 combat missions in Vietnam, Pick was given the military’s third highest honor, the Silver Star. He was also captured and did time as a POW. Now, after escaping a cage in Vietnam 40 years ago, the country he laid down his life for is throwing him back in a cage—over a decades-old gun.

At a gun show 40 years ago, Pick bought the rare M-14 rifle, similar to the one he used in Vietnam while he served in the Army. He put this rifle in a case, along with 14 other extremely rare guns and proudly displayed them in his Texas home for four decades.

“This gun was very rare at that time it was rare to see one so he instantly had a connection to it,” said Pick’s attorney Ryne Sandel. “Over the course of his life he and his wife and collected about 14 weapons, many of them were collectors items.”

https://freedomoutpost.com/decorated-silver-star-veteran-pow-sentenced-to-7-years-for-a-gun-he-bought-40-years-ago/

He did not win a Silver Star or any other award,and he was not an officer. Nor was he a POW.

People who claim to have looked into this can't even find any record of him ever serving anywhere in the military.

[Sanguine]

He did not win a Silver Star or any other award,and he was not an officer. Nor was he a POW.

People who claim to have looked into this can't even find any record of him ever serving anywhere in the military.

How do we know that?

[Elderberry]

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/plano-man-sentenced-7-years-firearms-violation


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 19, 2018
Plano Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Firearms Violation

PLANO, Texas – A 70-year-old Plano, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.

Alfred Pick pleaded guilty on May 22, 2018, to a charge of possession of a firearm while an unlawful user of a controlled substance and was sentenced, pursuant to an agreement by all parties, to 87 months in federal prison on Oct. 17, 2018 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented to the court, Plano police were called to an area hospital on Oct. 2, 2017, regarding a belligerent individual.  Officers encountered Pick, who was upset about the treatment of a relative in the hospital, and had told medical staff and others, that he intended to return to the hospital with a firearm and “would shoot [hospital staff] in their kneecaps and elbows first and let them bleed.”  Pick was taken into custody and delivered to mental health authorities for an evaluation.

As a result of the incident at the hospital, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) opened an investigation that eventually received information that Pick possessed weapons and narcotics at his home.  Agents obtained a search warrant and found over 2 grams of cocaine and over 10 grams of marijuana in Pick’s residence.  Agents also discover 14 firearms at Pick’s residence, including a fully automatic machine gun with an obliterated serial number that witnesses later told investigators that Pick had admitted he stole while he served in the military.

            The sentencing court also received information that Pick had repeatedly been cited for criminal trespass at various area hospitals for his aggressive behavior, involving both verbal and physical abuse of medical staff and impeding staff.  The court also heard that police had been called on two prior occasions in 2014 to restaurant parking lots where patrons reported that Pick had been threatening and brandished handguns in encounters with him.

Additional information presented at sentencing revealed Pick’s daughter reported to  investigators that Pick had sexually abused her from the time she was 4-years-old until the age of 17, taking nude photographs of her to, as he put it, “chart her growth” and sexually assaulting her.

Finally, the sentencing court received evidence that Pick threatened the Federal Magistrate Judge who detained him indicating he would fly his plane with explosives to kill the Judge and ATF agents who investigated his case.  Pick also stated that he would “have taught the Las Vegas shooter a thing or two,” referring to the Oct. 1, 2017 mass shooting.

               â€œObviously, there was a lot more to the sentence that was received – a sentence that Mr. Pick and his lawyer agreed to – than a single gun with a missing serial number,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.  “Although Mr. Pick was a decorated veteran, he would use that status routinely to try to excuse his repeated criminal behavior.  This was also not a mental health issue.  It became a public safety issue.”

               â€œThe people concerned for Mr. Pick’s safety when he honorably served our nation were the same people most-concerned for his and the public’s safety throughout our investigation,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “I applaud those that recognized and reported Mr. Pick’s abuse of controlled substances, amplified threats and intensified displays of physical and psychological aggression as well as the decisive action of the ATF Agents.”   

            In addition to the charge for which he was convicted, Pick was originally charged with two other violations – possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.  As part of Pick’s agreement to plead guilty and agreement as to the term of his sentence, these charges were dismissed.

               This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson.

[rustynail]

Drugs are bad.

[sneakypete]

How do we know that?

@Sanguine

First of all,his story was ridiculous. This caused people to research his name and service assignments,and find out no one with his name ever served in the unit he claimed to have served in,nobody with his name has ever been awarded a Silver Star,and nobody with his name has ever been commissioned as an officer in the US Army.

[endicom]

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/plano-man-sentenced-7-years-firearms-violation


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 19, 2018
Plano Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Firearms Violation

PLANO, Texas – A 70-year-old Plano, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.

Alfred Pick pleaded guilty on May 22, 2018, to a charge of possession of a firearm while an unlawful user of a controlled substance and was sentenced, pursuant to an agreement by all parties, to 87 months in federal prison on Oct. 17, 2018 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented to the court, Plano police were called to an area hospital on Oct. 2, 2017, regarding a belligerent individual.  Officers encountered Pick, who was upset about the treatment of a relative in the hospital, and had told medical staff and others, that he intended to return to the hospital with a firearm and “would shoot [hospital staff] in their kneecaps and elbows first and let them bleed.”  Pick was taken into custody and delivered to mental health authorities for an evaluation.

As a result of the incident at the hospital, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) opened an investigation that eventually received information that Pick possessed weapons and narcotics at his home.  Agents obtained a search warrant and found over 2 grams of cocaine and over 10 grams of marijuana in Pick’s residence.  Agents also discover 14 firearms at Pick’s residence, including a fully automatic machine gun with an obliterated serial number that witnesses later told investigators that Pick had admitted he stole while he served in the military.

            The sentencing court also received information that Pick had repeatedly been cited for criminal trespass at various area hospitals for his aggressive behavior, involving both verbal and physical abuse of medical staff and impeding staff.  The court also heard that police had been called on two prior occasions in 2014 to restaurant parking lots where patrons reported that Pick had been threatening and brandished handguns in encounters with him.

Additional information presented at sentencing revealed Pick’s daughter reported to  investigators that Pick had sexually abused her from the time she was 4-years-old until the age of 17, taking nude photographs of her to, as he put it, “chart her growth” and sexually assaulting her.

Finally, the sentencing court received evidence that Pick threatened the Federal Magistrate Judge who detained him indicating he would fly his plane with explosives to kill the Judge and ATF agents who investigated his case.  Pick also stated that he would “have taught the Las Vegas shooter a thing or two,” referring to the Oct. 1, 2017 mass shooting.

               â€œObviously, there was a lot more to the sentence that was received – a sentence that Mr. Pick and his lawyer agreed to – than a single gun with a missing serial number,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.  “Although Mr. Pick was a decorated veteran, he would use that status routinely to try to excuse his repeated criminal behavior.  This was also not a mental health issue.  It became a public safety issue.”

               â€œThe people concerned for Mr. Pick’s safety when he honorably served our nation were the same people most-concerned for his and the public’s safety throughout our investigation,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “I applaud those that recognized and reported Mr. Pick’s abuse of controlled substances, amplified threats and intensified displays of physical and psychological aggression as well as the decisive action of the ATF Agents.”   

            In addition to the charge for which he was convicted, Pick was originally charged with two other violations – possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.  As part of Pick’s agreement to plead guilty and agreement as to the term of his sentence, these charges were dismissed.

               This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson.

Well now, that's a whole nother story.

[Sighlass]

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/plano-man-sentenced-7-years-firearms-violation


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 19, 2018
Plano Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Firearms Violation

PLANO, Texas – A 70-year-old Plano, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.

Alfred Pick pleaded guilty on May 22, 2018, to a charge of possession of a firearm while an unlawful user of a controlled substance and was sentenced, pursuant to an agreement by all parties, to 87 months in federal prison on Oct. 17, 2018 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented to the court, Plano police were called to an area hospital on Oct. 2, 2017, regarding a belligerent individual.  Officers encountered Pick, who was upset about the treatment of a relative in the hospital, and had told medical staff and others, that he intended to return to the hospital with a firearm and “would shoot [hospital staff] in their kneecaps and elbows first and let them bleed.”  Pick was taken into custody and delivered to mental health authorities for an evaluation.

As a result of the incident at the hospital, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) opened an investigation that eventually received information that Pick possessed weapons and narcotics at his home.  Agents obtained a search warrant and found over 2 grams of cocaine and over 10 grams of marijuana in Pick’s residence.  Agents also discover 14 firearms at Pick’s residence, including a fully automatic machine gun with an obliterated serial number that witnesses later told investigators that Pick had admitted he stole while he served in the military.

            The sentencing court also received information that Pick had repeatedly been cited for criminal trespass at various area hospitals for his aggressive behavior, involving both verbal and physical abuse of medical staff and impeding staff.  The court also heard that police had been called on two prior occasions in 2014 to restaurant parking lots where patrons reported that Pick had been threatening and brandished handguns in encounters with him.

Additional information presented at sentencing revealed Pick’s daughter reported to  investigators that Pick had sexually abused her from the time she was 4-years-old until the age of 17, taking nude photographs of her to, as he put it, “chart her growth” and sexually assaulting her.

Finally, the sentencing court received evidence that Pick threatened the Federal Magistrate Judge who detained him indicating he would fly his plane with explosives to kill the Judge and ATF agents who investigated his case.  Pick also stated that he would “have taught the Las Vegas shooter a thing or two,” referring to the Oct. 1, 2017 mass shooting.

               â€œObviously, there was a lot more to the sentence that was received – a sentence that Mr. Pick and his lawyer agreed to – than a single gun with a missing serial number,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.  “Although Mr. Pick was a decorated veteran, he would use that status routinely to try to excuse his repeated criminal behavior.  This was also not a mental health issue.  It became a public safety issue.”

               â€œThe people concerned for Mr. Pick’s safety when he honorably served our nation were the same people most-concerned for his and the public’s safety throughout our investigation,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “I applaud those that recognized and reported Mr. Pick’s abuse of controlled substances, amplified threats and intensified displays of physical and psychological aggression as well as the decisive action of the ATF Agents.”   

            In addition to the charge for which he was convicted, Pick was originally charged with two other violations – possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.  As part of Pick’s agreement to plead guilty and agreement as to the term of his sentence, these charges were dismissed.

               This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson.

Thanks for the update.... Elderberry

[Sanguine]

@Sanguine

First of all,his story was ridiculous. This caused people to research his name and service assignments,and find out no one with his name ever served in the unit he claimed to have served in,nobody with his name has ever been awarded a Silver Star,and nobody with his name has ever been commissioned as an officer in the US Army.

Thanks, Pete, I figured you had a good reason to think that.

[Smokin Joe]

Well now, that's a whole nother story.

Kinda shuts down the old outrage meter, doesn't it?