Repeater
Regular Member
In light of McAwful's Excutive Order, what to make of this?
Norfolk businessman with ties to political, business leaders gets 3 years for "mini-arsenal"
However, he had most of his rights restored:
As for the alleged "Mini-Arsenal" ...
Norfolk businessman with ties to political, business leaders gets 3 years for "mini-arsenal"
A twice convicted felon with ties to the state's political, business and religious leaders was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for illegally possessing a small arsenal of assault-style rifles and accessories.
Attorneys for Pieter Reidy asked the court to place their client on house arrest in light of his philanthropy, but U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith said she couldn't imagine letting the 37-year-old Norfolk businessman off that lightly.
"I could never find house arrest sufficient," Smith said, noting the need to deter future criminal activity by both Reidy and others. "It can't just be brushed under the rug."
...
The charges stemmed from a 9 mm, laser-sighted handgun found in Reidy’s Norfolk home, and eight semi-automatic rifles, numerous high-capacity magazines, multiple cases of ammunition, 10 containers of gun powder and several scopes and sights found in a storage locker.
Investigators also located a video of Reidy, who was previously convicted in 2004 on charges related to a large quantity of prescription painkillers and marijuana, shooting a handgun at Colonial Shooting Academy in Virginia Beach.
However, he had most of his rights restored:
James Broccoletti, one of Reidy’s attorneys, argued the case was atypical when compared to others handled by the court and asked the judge for lenience. He said the handgun was purchased for personal protection and that the other weapons, many of which were in unopened boxes, were purchased as investments.
Broccoletti noted that his client petitioned for and received the restoration of many of his civil rights in 2012 from Governor Bob McDonnell. He said Reidy tried in 2008 to get his gun rights restored through a presidential pardon, but he filed the paperwork too soon and was denied. Reidy never tried again.
Several prominent Virginians sent letters to the court in support of Reidy, including former Gov. George Allen, U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms and Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
As for the alleged "Mini-Arsenal" ...
James Broccoletti, one of Reidy’s attorneys, downplayed what prosecutors termed Reidy’s “mini-arsenal.” He said the handgun was intended for personal protection and that the other weapons, many of which were in unopened boxes, were purchased as “something of an investment opportunity.”
“He collected these firearms at a time when many people in the industry thought that they were likely to be soon banned at the national level,” Broccoletti said.