L. A. Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Weapons Charges

A Los Angeles police officer arrested two weeks ago while allegedly trying to buy stolen jewelry pleaded guilty Wednesday in U. S. District Court to separate charges that he illegally possessed a machine gun, machine-pistol and silencer.

Michael Alexander Edelstein, an eight-year officer assigned to the West Valley Division, was arrested July 16 after the weapons were found in his Canoga Park home during a search by agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, authorities said.

Edelstein, 31, was free on $15,000 bail on the weapons charges when he was arrested during a sting operation in Tarzana on Aug. 22. Deputy Dist. Atty. James A. Baker said Edelstein and two other men were arrested after purchasing two Rolex watches, two gold rings and other gold jewelry from undercover officers for $1,500. The men apparently believed that the merchandise was stolen, Baker said.

Edelstein’s bail on the weapons charges was revoked after police found a .38-caliber handgun in his car in the Tarzana incident, Baker said.

Edelstein faces four years in state prison in the jewelry case and 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on the weapons charges, Assistant U. S. Atty. Stefan Stein said. Neither Edelstein or his attorney, Donald J. Calabria, could be reached for comment.

Stein said he had no comment on why Edelstein had the automatic weapons. According to court papers, Edelstein was under surveillance by police before his July arrest.