Jury returns conviction in threat to witness

OFF THE WIRE
Jury returns conviction in threat to witness
Updated: July 30, 2010, 7:17 AM

A jury has convicted the son of member of the Chosen Few motorcycle gang of threatening to retaliate against a man who testified against his father in a racketeering case, U. S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. reported Thursday.

Prosecutors said Chad Koschuk, 40, of Alden, threatened David Ignasiak, 42,a government witness, with bodily harm during a chance encounter at a convenience store in Alden last Sept. 11.

Koschuk’s attorney contended that his client spoke out of frustration and never actually intended to harm Ignasiak.

After the verdict, Chief U. S. District Judge William M. Skretny remanded Koschuk to the custody of U. S. marshals. Koschuk faces about 4 1/2 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines when he is sentenced Nov. 2.