Schenectady Man Sentenced in Illegal Gun Purchase Linked to Temple Shooting!
A Schenectady man, Andrew Miller, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to conspiring with Mufid Fawaz Alkhader to purchase a shotgun illegally.
This incident is connected to a shooting that occurred outside Temple Israel in Albany in December. Miller, 38, admitted to working with Alkhader to buy a firearm illegally, which led to this sentence.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York (NDNY), Miller conspired with Alkhader to falsely claim that Miller was purchasing the gun for himself when, in fact, Alkhader was the real buyer.
Miller will serve 14 months in prison and face three years of probation for his role in this conspiracy.
The incident dates back to a period between October and November 2023, when Miller and Alkhader devised a plan to deceive a firearms dealer in Albany County.
They intended to purchase a Kel-Tec 12-gauge pump shotgun, but the purchase was for Alkhader, who they believed was not legally able to buy the firearm. To execute the plan, Miller falsely represented himself as the actual buyer of the gun.
In November 2023, Miller went to a gun shop and lied on the Firearms Transaction Record, claiming that he was the true purchaser.
The very next day, Miller returned to the shop with Alkhader, took possession of the shotgun, and then handed it over to Alkhader. This transaction led to the federal charges against Miller.
The gun in question was later connected to a shooting incident in December 2023 outside Temple Israel in Albany.
Two shots were fired on the front steps of the temple just before 2 p.m. Alkhader is currently facing charges related to that incident, and his case remains ongoing.
After the shooting, CBS6 spoke with a man claiming to be Alkhader’s father. The man revealed that Alkhader had been living away from home for several years, staying with friends in the Capital Region.
He also shared that Alkhader had been struggling with mental health and drug-related issues.
Miller’s involvement in the illegal gun purchase has now resulted in his sentencing, while Alkhader’s legal situation continues to unfold.
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This case highlights the risks and legal consequences of firearms-related conspiracies and the importance of adhering to federal gun laws.