Posted Wednesday, January 9, 2013 --- 3:51 p.m.

Madison, Wis. - John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Timothy Baumann, 27, Madison, Wis., was sentenced on January 7, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Baumann pleaded guilty to this charge on November 6, 2012.

On June 4, 2012, Baumann was on extended supervision with the State of Wisconsin after having been convicted of felony armed robbery. On that same date, Baumann convinced his girlfriend to straw purchase a Taurus pistol for him at Gander Mountain. A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him. Felons are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

The purchase was caught on surveillance video and it was clear Baumann was the one choosing which firearm to purchase. A probation search was done at Baumann’s apartment on June 19, 2012 and the ammunition was recovered. The box for the Taurus pistol was empty, but it had the serial number on it, which is how law enforcement was able to trace the firearm and learn that Baumann’s girlfriend was the straw purchaser.

Judge Crabb chose a five-year sentence because Baumann is a 27-year old repeat offender whose criminal history suggests he presents a serious risk of danger to the community.

The charge against Baumann was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.