DENVER (LAWFUEL) – Brian Ray Karsten, age 50, of Cortez, Colorado, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Lewis T. Babcock to serve 84 months (7 years) in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Karsten was also ordered to serve 3 years on supervised release following his term of incarceration. The defendant, who appeared in custody, was remanded.

Brian Ray Karsten was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on August 22, 2006. He pled guilty before then Chief U.S. District Court Judge Edward W. Nottingham on September 2, 2008. He was sentenced today, April 10, 2009, by Judge Babcock.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on April 5, 2006, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Karsten’s residence located in Montezuma County. Officers found and seized fifty-nine firearms, nine black powder rifles and pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Several of the firearms were semi-automatic and capable of accepting large capacity magazines. Also, several had been stolen. A Ruger, model single six, .22 magnum caliber revolver was found on the headboard of Karsten’s bed. The defendant had previously been convicted on March 30, 2005, in District Court in San Juan County, Utah, of possession or use of a controlled substance. It is a felony violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess firearms.

This case was investigated by the Colorado State Patrol and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office.

Karsten was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Mydans.