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Thursday, October 15, 2026
Courthouse News Service
Thursday, October 15, 2026 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Serial Numbers

The Second Circuit upheld a defendant’s sentencing enhancement for possessing a firearm with an “altered or obliterated serial number.” The defendant, whose gun had a serial number in three places, argued that “one iteration” of the serial number was legible so that the characters on the other two could be “easily inferred.” The court ruled the enhancement applies even if just one serial number is altered.

MANHATTAN — The Second Circuit upheld a defendant’s sentencing enhancement for possessing a firearm with an “altered or obliterated serial number.” The defendant, whose gun had a serial number in three places, argued that “one iteration” of the serial number was legible so that the characters on the other two could be “easily inferred.” The court ruled the enhancement applies even if just one serial number is altered.

Categories / Appeals, Criminal

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