24 February 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced that Dean Utile was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for stealing explosive materials from law enforcement bunkers in San Mateo County in July 2004.
Mr. Utile, 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 23, 2004. He was charged with conspiring to steal explosives, theft of explosive materials, unlicenced transportation of explosive materials, possession of stolen explosives, and being a felon in possession of explosives. The indictment alleged that Mr. Utile and one of his co-defendants, Michael Allan, stole hundreds of pounds of explosives materials from the law enforcement bunkers over the July 4th weekend in 2004. On October 15, 2004, Mr. Utile pleaded guilty to all five of the charges against him.
The 60 month sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge D. Lowell Jensen in Oakland. It was the longest sentence imposed upon any of the defendants in this case. After hearing testimony today from Special Agent Brian Hester of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Judge Jensen agreed with the government that Mr. Utile should be jointly held responsible with Michael Allan for 578 of the more than 700 pounds of explosives stolen in this case. After Allan stole one load of explosives by himself, he recruited Utile and the two of them returned to the explosives bunkers to steal the remaining 578 pounds of explosives. In addition to the 60 month prison term, Judge Jensen sentenced Mr. Utile to a 3-year term of supervised release to follow his prison term. Mr. Utile has been in custody since he was arrested on July 8, 2004. All four men involved in stealing and receiving these explosive materials have now been sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan said, “This final sentencing marks the end of an expeditious and thorough investigation into these stolen explosives. The swift response to such potentially dangerous criminal activity is vital to ensure the safety of our communities. These sentences serve as an important and necessary deterrent to others who might commit such crimes.”
On February 4, 2005, Gregory Sherinian was sentenced to 37 months in prison for possessing three stolen grenades several days after Allan and Utile had stolen them. On February 11, 2005, Michael Allan was sentenced to 51 months in prison. On February 18, 2005, Timothy Byrd was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possessing about 20 pounds of the stolen explosives several days after Allan and Utile had stolen them.
The prosecution is the result of an intense 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 is 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 .
