For Immediate Release
January 14, 2011 United States Attorney's Office
District of Columbia
Contact: (202) 514-7566

Former Arizona Man Sentenced for Firearms Offenses
Defendant Arrested After Guns Found in Trailer Near the National Mall

WASHINGTON—James M. Patock, 66, was sentenced today to a year of probation on charges stemming from a November 3, 2010 incident in which firearms and ammunition were recovered by police in his trailer, which was parked on the National Mall, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Patock, formerly of Arizona, pled guilty December 20, 2010 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count each of attempted carrying a pistol without a license and possession of an unregistered firearm. The Honorable Judge Thomas J. Motley sentenced him to a total of 360 days of incarceration. The judge suspended the jail sentence and placed the defendant on one year of unsupervised probation.

Patock was taken into custody after the discovery of the weapons and remained held until his release by the judge in mid-December. He pled guilty days after his release.

According to the government’s evidence, on November 3, 2010, at approximately 2:50 p.m., members of the United States Park Police responded to Patock’s trailer, which was parked in front of the Air and Space Museum, and which appeared suspicious. This led to the closing of nearby streets while authorities inspected the vehicle for explosives.

No explosives were discovered, but upon making contact with Patock, officers learned that a number of firearms were in the trailer, including a revolver and two rifles, as well as ammunition. The firearms were operable and not registered in the District of Columbia. Further investigation revealed that Patock did not have a license to carry the pistol in the District of Columbia.

The defendant admitted that the weapons were his, and told the police that he had been living in the trailer while he was in and around the District.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the United States Park Police, especially Officer Vincent Quadrello, who was the first officer to respond, and Investigator Monique Pettett, who assisted in the investigation. The U.S. Attorney also thanked the members of the Metropolitan Police Department Bomb Squad, and MPD Detective Sgt. J. Greg Somers. Mr. Machen also praised the work of law enforcement partners from the FBI, the Prince William County Police Department, the Capitol Police, the Smithsonian Police, the FBI police, and the United States Secret Service. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Lieber and Lara Worm, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

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