Suspect in firearms case may face new charges

Additional federal charges may be filed against a Spokane Valley man with 19 felony convictions who was arrested last month at Spokane International Airport by FBI agents, authorities say.

Michael D. Pirello waived his right Thursday in U.S. District Court to hear the evidence against him that led to his arrest Dec. 21 on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

By waiving his right to a probable cause hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno, the 37-year-old defendant agreed to remain in jail without bond until he stands trial on the federal firearms charge.

Before then, perhaps later this month, additional charges may be sought against Pirello, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington without elaborating.

The federal prosecutor didn’t say whether Pirello’s 19 previous convictions qualified him as an “armed career criminal” and for an automatic, mandatory 15-year sentence if convicted of the newest charge.

Additional charges against Pirello could develop when evidence against him is presented secretly to a federal grand jury. There are three such grand jury panels that meet each month in the Eastern District of Washington.

According to court documents, Pirello bought a $250 Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum revolver on Nov. 3 and turned it over to a paid confidential informant who was working for the FBI.

Pirello was given an additional $100 for helping the informant find the firearm, the documents say.

At the time, Pirello was living at 11915 E. First in Spokane Valley, the documents say.

A month earlier in a meeting with Pirello, the informant said he didn’t know much about firearms, but was interested in obtaining a supply “to be used in a gang war on the East Coast,” the documents say.

Pirello’s previous felony convictions include a March 1995 conviction in U.S. District Court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.