Felon Sentenced to 63 Months for Illegally Possessing Ammunition

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Derbie Michel, age 33, formerly of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

In previously pleading guilty, Michel, who has three prior felony convictions, admitted that he possessed five rounds of ammunition on October 15, 2022. According to court documents filed by the Government, Michel threw these rounds of ammunition from a car while fleeing from members of the Troy Police Department on October 15, 2022. He also threw a privately made firearm, or "ghost gun," from the car during the same pursuit.

In imposing the sentence, Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. found that Michel recklessly endangered others by instructing the driver of the car to engage in the car chase and later obstructed justice by making materially false statements about that conduct in connection with his sentencing. Judge Scullin also ordered Michel to serve a 3-year term of supervised release upon Michel's release from prison.

The FBI's Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Troy Police Department, investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Allen J. Vickey prosecuted the case.