United States v. Crooker

Michael Crooker was indicted, tried and convicted for transporting a firearm in interstate commerce as a convicted felon, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (2006), and sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment. The “firearm” was a device designed to muffle the sound of an airgun. The decisive issue on this appeal is whether such a silencer could, on the facts of this case, qualify as a “firearm” within the meaning of the statutory definition. Id. § 921(a)(3)(C), (24). The raw facts are essentially undisputed.

In April 2004, Crooker — who had previously been convicted of a felony — was engaged in offering…