Pensacola Felon Convicted of Possessing Ammunition and Two Unregistered Silencers
A federal jury in Pensacola found James Michael Olshefskie guilty of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of two unregistered firearm silencers after a two-day trial. The conviction triggers mandatory federal sentencing proceedings that will determine prison term, fines and forfeiture under statutes that bar felons from firearms and require registration of silencers.
news.sky.comPENSACOLA, Florida — James Michael Olshefskie, 55, of Pensacola, has been found guilty by a federal jury of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of two unregistered firearm silencers.
The jury returned the verdict May 7, 2026, following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Olshefskie now faces sentencing on both counts.
Scope of the case centers on one individual previously convicted of a felony who possessed ammunition and two silencers that had not been registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing any ammunition or firearms and imposes a separate registration requirement on silencers under the National Firearms Act.
The conviction changes Olshefskie’s legal status from defendant to convicted felon on the new counts. Sentencing will occur on a date not yet set; prior to sentencing he remains subject to the standard conditions of release or detention ordered by the court.
Downstream, the U.S. Probation Office must prepare a presentence investigation report that calculates Olshefskie’s advisory guidelines range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which investigated the case, will submit a victim impact statement if applicable and recommend forfeiture of the silencers and ammunition.
The court must impose a sentence that includes a term of imprisonment or supervised release; any sentence also triggers the lifetime federal prohibition on Olshefskie possessing firearms or ammunition in the future. The government has 14 days after sentencing to file any appeal of the sentence.
This marks the latest felony-in-possession case prosecuted in the Northern District of Florida under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The silencer counts arise under 26 U.S.C. §§ 5841, 5861(d) and 5871, which together criminalize possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon and set a maximum 10-year prison term per count.
The Department of Justice has pursued such cases as part of its enforcement of federal firearms laws that target prohibited persons and unregistered NFA items.
Coverage spread
Substrate’s article above is written from the primary record. Below: how mainstream outlets reported the same event.
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