Baltimore County Man Charged with Violations of Gun Laws

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Michael Jelani Johnson was charged in the Circuit Court for Howard County with making a false statement on an “Affidavit and Application to Purchase a Regulated Firearm,” Perjury on an affidavit required by law and Attempting to Illegally Possess a Regulated Firearm.

The charges allege that on or about November 6, 2006, Michael Jelani Johnson executed an “Affidavit and Application to Purchase a Regulated Firearm” in which he falsely affirmed that he had not ever been convicted of a felony and that he was not a respondent against whom a current civil protective order had been entered. The Affidavit and Application was filed with and disapproved by the Maryland State Police Firearms Registration Section in Howard County. No trial date has been set.

False statement on an “Affidavit and Application to Purchase a Regulated Firearm” is punishable by a maximum sentence of three (3) years and a fine of $5000. Perjury on an affidavit required by law is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten (10) years. Common law attempt to illegally possess a regulated firearm is punishable by a maximum sentence of five (5) years.

This case will be prosecuted by the Firearms Trafficking Unit of the Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Gansler thanked Assistant Attorney General Clarence Goetz for his work on this case. A criminal charge is merely an accusation of wrongdoing and the defendant is presumed innocent unless the State proves him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.