The Blaze

New York Army Veteran Facing 7 Years in Prison Over Empty Ammo Magazines

Army veteran Nate Haddad is facing seven years in prison for possessing several empty ammunition magazines. (Image source: WGRZ-TV)

n Army veteran in New York is facing up to seven years in prison for possessing five empty 30-round ammunition magazines.

Nate Haddad told WGRZ-TV he was parked on a road last month waiting to meet someone interested in buying them off him when police approached. According to the station, the magazines were for an AR-15 rifle, the same type of weapon Haddad once carried in combat. Magazines over 10 rounds have been illegal in New York since 1994, unless they were manufactured before the law went into effect. Haddad says he thought his were legal, until he found out otherwise.

“I certainly did not think I was committing a felony crime by having these,” Haddad told WGRZ. “My understanding of what I had in my possession was that it was manufactured before 1994, but the arresting officers told me otherwise after I showed them the magazines that I had in my possession.”

Haddad — who retired from 12 years of active duty in 2010 after sustaining a shoulder injury — now faces five counts of criminal weapons possession, punishable by up to seven years in prison. An online fund for his defense started by his brother has raised more than $40,000.

He was offered a deal this week to plead guilty to five misdemeanor counts and avoid jail time, but declined — citing, for one, how it would impact his job at Fort Drum, where he still works as a civilian employee.

There’s another reason too: “Even if I took that deal I would still be branded as a criminal, and I don’t think I should be,” Haddad said.

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Replies

  • Yea something don't smell right with this at all.
  • That's the Socialist state of new York for you!!!

  • It does sound like a set up. How coincidental that a police officer would stop and check him out.
    Governor Cuomo is the criminal!!
    Cuomo is also allowing late term abortion in NY. Evil!

  • someone should charge Cuomo with Sedition and violations of the Federal Constitution. see how he likes being branded a criminal son of a bitch.
  • THERE GOING TO LOCK UP ANYONE WHO EVEN TALKS ABOUT GUNS, ETC.  THE OBAMA WAY. GETTING TO THE POINT OF ''WHO YA GOING TO TRUST & WHO IS ON YOUR SIDE?

  • God bless this young man! Keep him safe from all harm.

    It seems as if maybe someone is trying to make a statement and they're using this young man to do so.

  • Real American Patriots need to go get him out of new york.

  • WE LET THEM DO IT.

  • This has the distinct aroma of entrapment.

  • How Cute --"they" offered him a "deal"--I ask "them just what the He-- crime did he commit? I see No crime--except on the part of the prosecutors.

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