Date: 01-29-2020

Case Style:

Case Number: 2:18-cr-00162-JLR

Judge: James L. Robart

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Washington (King County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Thomas Woods and Marie Dalton

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description: Seattle, WA - The United States of America charged Hany Veletanlic with felony possession of firearms and trafficking.

A 36-year-old resident of Tulalip, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 85 months in prison for four federal felonies related to illegal gun possession and trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. HANY VELETANLIC, a citizen of Bosnia legally residing in the United States, was found guilty of violating the Arms Export Control Act, illegally possessing two unregistered silencers, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. VELETANLIC was convicted in February 2019 following a two-day jury trial. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said that VELETANLIC had run an illegal “lucrative business” and taken “quite sophisticated steps” to hide his conduct. The Court emphasized that sending guns to countries with restrictions on guns was very serious conduct.

“This defendant repeatedly lied to law enforcement, violated judges orders, and even schemed to harm a witness against him from the Federal Detention Center,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “Even behind bars he tried to transfer guns in his control to another violent group. Such disregard for the rule of law cannot be tolerated.”

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, in February 2017, Swedish law enforcement seized a part of a Glock firearm from a residence in Fagersta, Sweden. The serial number on the Glock firearm had been filed off, but Glock Inc. was able to trace the sale of the firearm using a specialized company code imprinted on the part. The gun had been purchased by a resident of the Seattle area. When contacted by law enforcement, the resident said he had privately sold the gun to VELETANLIC. In May 2017, VELETANLIC contacted Homeland Security agents when he learned they had been asking about the firearm. VELETANLIC told agents about his activity selling firearms on eBay and in direct sales. After being advised of his Miranda rights, VELETANLIC ultimately admitted shipping packages of firearms overseas–as many as 20 different shipments to two different customer groups in Sweden. He also has admitted shipping firearms parts to people in France, Russia, and Brazil.

In the course of a July 2017 interview with law enforcement, VELETANLIC admitted that a customer in France had shipped him two silencers in exchange for the firearms parts. VELETANLIC claimed the silencers had been destroyed. However, when agents received permission to look in VELETANLIC’s gun safe, they found one of the silencers. The second silencer was turned over by VELETANLIC to agents in August 2017.

In May 2018, VELETANLIC was arrested on federal charges. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying a stolen Ruger pistol with an obliterated serial number.

While awaiting sentencing at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) at SeaTac, VELETANLIC communicated with others outside the prison about transferring firearms to someone he thought was associated with a criminal group. VELETANLIC believed that criminal gang was going to harm someone who had been a witness against him. In reality, an undercover officer was posing as a possible gang member after inmates at the FDC alerted law enforcement to the scheme. VELETANLIC denies trying to arrange the attack.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF) with assistance from the Swedish National Police.

Outcome: 01/27/2020 195 MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge James L. Robart - CRD: Ashleigh Drecktrah; AUSA: Tom Woods; Def Cnsl: Gilbert Levy; USPO: Andrea Porter; Court Reporter: Nancy Bauer; SENTENCING held on 1/27/2020 for Hany Veletanlic. Defense witness: Bradley Grasser. The court hears from counsel re: sentencing. Defendant is committed to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for a term of 85 months on Counts 1, 2, and 3, and 60 months on Count 4, with all counts to run concurrently for a total sentence of 85 months. Upon release from custody, Defendant is subject to 3 years of supervised release; $400.00 special assessment imposed; fine waived. The court recommends placement at FCI Sheridan. Defendant advised of appeal rights. The court signs the judgment and sentence. Defendant remanded to custody. (AD) (Entered: 01/27/2020)
01/27/2020 196 JUDGMENT as to Hany Veletanlic by Judge James L. Robart. (cc: USPO, PTS, FLU, Fin., USMO, Sea Tac Det) (AD) (Entered: 01/27/2020)

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