Biker gang member gets 18-month sentence for threatening witness

OFF THE WIRE
The son of the jailed president of the Chosen Few motorcycle gang was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today for threatening a government witness.

With about 20 members and supporters of the biker gang watching, Chad Koschuk, 24, of Alden was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

The judge referred to Koschuk's conduct as "bad, stupid and ugly," but the sentence was well below the potential prison term that was prescribed by advisory government sentencing guidelines.

After a jury trial in July, Koschuk was convicted of making verbal threats against Jason Macken, an alleged victim of extortion by the Chosen Few, during an encounter outside a convenience store in Alden.

The incident took place in September 2009. According to federal prosecutors and agents, Koschuk criticized Macken for testifying against his father and told him he would some day sexually assault him while pulling on his pony tail.

Koschuk did not stalk Macken, and ran into him "by chance," defense attorney Daniel J. Henry Jr. said. Henry also said Koschuk spoke out of anger and in defense of his father, and noted that his client never physically touched Macken.

Skretny said he understood all that, but added that he cannot "condone" or "minimize" anyone making threats against a witness.

"We're talking about a trash-talking threat [but] you just don't go around doing this to individuals," Skretny told Koschuk. "There needs to be full respect for the law."

The son of the jailed president of the Chosen Few motorcycle gang was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today for threatening a government witness.

With about 20 members and supporters of the biker gang watching, Chad Koschuk, 24, of Alden was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

The judge referred to Koschuk's conduct as "bad, stupid and ugly," but the sentence was well below the potential prison term that was prescribed by advisory government sentencing guidelines.

After a jury trial in July, Koschuk was convicted of making verbal threats against Jason Macken, an alleged victim of extortion by the Chosen Few, during an encounter outside a convenience store in Alden.

The incident took place in September 2009. According to federal prosecutors and agents, Koschuk criticized Macken for testifying against his father and told him he would some day sexually assault him while pulling on his pony tail.

Koschuk did not stalk Macken, and ran into him "by chance," defense attorney Daniel J. Henry Jr. said. Henry also said Koschuk spoke out of anger and in defense of his father, and noted that his client never physically touched Macken.

Skretny said he understood all that, but added that he cannot "condone" or "minimize" anyone making threats against a witness.

"We're talking about a trash-talking threat [but] you just don't go around doing this to individuals," Skretny told Koschuk. "There needs to be full respect for the law."

http://www.buffalonews.com/incoming/article261778.ece