4 February 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced that Gregory Sherinian was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison for his involvement in the scheme where explosive materials were stolen from law enforcement bunkers in San Mateo county in July 2004.
Mr. Sherinian, 41, of Hayward, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 23, 2004. He was charged with possessing three stolen grenades and being a felon in possession of explosive materials. The indictment alleged that two of Mr. Sherinian’s co-defendants, Michael Allan and Dean Utile, stole hundreds of pounds of explosive materials from the law enforcement bunkers over the July 4th weekend in 2004. On September 23, 2004, Mr. Sherinian pleaded guilty to one count of possessing stolen explosives, admitting that he had received three stolen grenades from Allan. He also pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of explosives, admitting that he had been convicted of a felony offense prior to having possessed those grenades.
The 37 month sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge D. Lowell Jensen in Oakland. In addition to the prison term, Judge Jensen sentenced the defendant to three years of supervised release. Mr. Sherinian has been in federal custody since he was arrested in July 2004.
All four men involved in stealing and receiving these explosive materials have pleaded guilty. Mr. Sherinian is the first to be sentenced. Mr. Allan is scheduled to be sentenced next Friday, February 11, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Jensen. Mr. Utile and Timothy Byrd are scheduled to be sentenced on February 18 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Jensen.
The prosecution is the result of an intensive investigation led by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and involving multiple federal, state, and local agencies. Douglas Sprague is the Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release and related court filings may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can . Related court documents and information may be found on the U.S. District Court website at www.cand.uscourts.gov or on .
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be directed to Luke Macaulay at (415) 436-6757 or by email at Luke.Macaulay3@usdoj.gov .
