A man previously convicted of bank robbery is now facing a new federal gun charge after police found a firearm and suspected drugs inside a Buffalo home.
Michael Mitchell, 32, of Buffalo, was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Officers responded to a gun call on Austin Street
Late on August 25, Buffalo Police responded to a report of a man with a gun inside a residence on Austin Street. When they arrived, they found the 911 caller down the street and then made contact with Mitchell at the house.
Officers detained him while they searched the property. Inside, they found a black hoodie with an unloaded gun in the pocket, a container holding two 9mm rounds, and a small amount of what appeared to be crack cocaine.
Mitchell has prior federal conviction
Mitchell isn’t allowed to own a gun due to a prior federal conviction. In 2013, he was sentenced to nine years in prison for bank robbery by force.
The new charge is the result of a joint investigation by the Buffalo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
As of now, Mitchell is facing a criminal complaint. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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