Project Safe Neighborhoods

EUGENE, OREGON--Karin J. Immergut, the United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, announced today that MICHAEL JAY CATES, 42, of Coos Bay, Oregon, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Ann Aiken to 180 months imprisonment to be followed by a five year term of supervised release.

On January 19, 2005, in Coos County, Oregon, in response to a citizen’s complaint that a person was shooting at a stop sign from a moving vehicle on Highway 101, Bandon police stopped the vehicle in which Cates was a passenger. Inside the vehicle police found a long-barreled revolver recently stolen during a burglary of a residence in Douglas County. Cates was arrested for state parole violations and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Further search of the vehicle by police revealed numerous items stolen from a car a few hours earlier.

On June 29, 2005, Cates pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Because Cates had five burglary convictions, two drug trafficking convictions, eleven convictions for being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, and several other felony convictions including illegal possession of methamphetamine, escape and illegal possession of a short-barreled shotgun, his possession of the revolver classified him as an armed career criminal. Under federal law, this mandated the minimum 15-year sentence.

Paul Burgett, District Attorney for Coos County, referred this matter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for further investigation.

For further information contact Assistant United States Attorney Frank R. Papagni, Jr. at 541-465-6627.

All media inquiries about Project Safe Neighborhoods in Oregon should be directed to:

Fred Weinhouse
Assistant U.S. Attorney
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon
503-727-1000
E-mail: Fred Weinhouse