New ULM Felon Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced the sentencing of BUCK OTTO WHITE a/k/a “TIMOTHY JOSEPH HOFFMAN,” 50, to 300 months in federal prison for illegally possessing stolen firearms and ammunition. WHITE was charged on April 7, 2014, with two counts of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of stolen firearms and ammunition. On April 25, 2014, following a three-day trial, a federal jury found WHITE guilty on all counts. The defendant was sentenced on February 13, 2015, before Judge Joan N. Ericksen in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minn.

“Buck White is a career felon,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Endicott. “As a result of his prior convictions, Mr. White cannot legally possess firearms. He is now facing 25 years in prison for his repeated illegal activity. This conviction would not have been possible without the investigative efforts of the ATF and our local partners in the New Ulm Police Department and Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office.”

As proven at trial, WHITE illegally possessed numerous firearms at a storage unit in Courtland, Minn., which included two rifles and two shotguns, as well as 140 rounds of ammunition. All of the firearms and ammunition were stolen during the course of a residential burglary in a nearby town. WHITE also illegally had a rifle and various stolen ammunition at his home in New Ulm, Minn.

During the pendency of his court proceedings, WHITE was released to a treatment facility and ordered to wear a location monitoring bracelet. The defendant on July 22, 2013, removed the GPS monitoring bracelet, fled the facility, and remained a fugitive until the U.S. Marshals arrested him on January 15, 2014. During the arrest, WHITE attempted to flee, leading officers on a high-speed car chase in a densely populated area of Minneapolis, Minn.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the New Ulm Police Department, the Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and John R. Marti.

Defendant Information:

BUCK OTTO WHITE, a/k/a “TIMOTHY JOSEPH HOFFMAN,” 50

New Ulm, Minn.

Convicted:

• Armed Career Criminal in Possession of Firearm, 1 count

• Armed Career Criminal in Possession of Ammunition, 1 count

• Possession of Stolen Firearms, 1 count

• Possession of Stolen Ammunition, 1 count

Sentenced:

• 300 months in prison

• 5 years of supervised release