PENSACOLA — A 55-year-old convicted felon already on federal supervised release was found guilty by a jury here of possessing ammunition and two unregistered firearm silencers, the latest prosecution under the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative.
James Michael Olshefskie faces up to 25 years in prison after the two-day trial in federal court in Pensacola. United States Probation Officers discovered the ammunition and silencers in Olshefskie’s bedroom during a routine visit to his residence on Sept. 11, 2025, while he was serving federal supervised release for a 2024 felony conviction. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“I am incredibly proud to deliver another win for the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, through which we are aggressively prosecuting the perpetrators of violent crime to keep our communities safe,” said John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “This felon has demonstrated an outright refusal to follow the law, and so it is necessary to ensure he remains incarcerated to protect the law-abiding citizens of this District from his continued criminality.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
The conviction came the same day federal prosecutors in the Northern District announced a separate firearms case under Operation Take Back America. Lamar Bunch, 35, was indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a charge carrying up to 15 years in prison. Bunch appeared for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. The case was jointly investigated by ATF and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Bunch is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial.
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to combat violent crime, illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. Bunch’s jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, in Tallahassee before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.