Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

James Mickelson

The Crime and Investigation

Image
Mugshot of James Mickelson

Awaiting trial for pending federal firearms charges, James Mickelson made a fateful decision. He offered $10,000 for the murder of two ATF confidential informants, who would be witnesses in his criminal case. He also facilitated the purchase of a firearm through an intermediary. Mickelson was later electronically recorded admitting his intentions and paying up when he thought one of the murders had been carried out.

The Arrest and Adjudication

After his arrest by ATF Agents, Mickelson pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to kill a witness in a federal criminal case. He was sentenced to 132 months imprisonment. Rick Guilbert, Mickelson's intermediary, pled guilty to lesser charges and received 12 months' imprisonment.

Last Updated: September 22, 2016

ATF.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of Justice

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov