By Samantha Grillo and Samuel J. Paul
The federal trial of a Yonkers plumber with a long rap sheet accused of possessing an arsenal of powerful weapons was postponed on Tuesday, pending a conference to discuss coordination of state and federal trials.
The defendant, Antonio Olmeda, 55, faced the new charges after having been jailed two years ago for firing shots at two police officers in Queens. In that incident, authorities said, the police approached a suspect who they noticed wearing a fake beard and long trench coat. As police questioned him, the suspect reportedly pulled out a revolver and fired his weapon three times at the officers before he was caught. DNA evidence left at the scene of this crime led investigators to Olmeda in that case.
Meanwhile Olmeda was captured in the more recent case by agents of the FBI and U.S. Marshals.
The defendant faces both state and federal charges, including weapons possession and attempted murder, among other offenses.
The federal trial was expected to begin this fall. If convicted, Olmeda faces a maximum of 60 years on the federal charges alone.
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