Detroit Man Sentenced Following Federal Weapons Conviction

A Detroit man was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by David McCain, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Jerry Burton, 31, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and will serve two years of supervision following his release from federal prison. Burton pleaded guilty last October and was sentenced by Judge Nancy G. Edmunds on January 8, 2013. The court noted that Burton’s numerous previous convictions demonstrated that he was a continuing danger to the community.

During the guilty plea and in memoranda and argument submitted to the court at sentencing, the evidenced showed that ATF agents identified Burton as someone who had expressed an interest in illegally selling firearms in Detroit. On January 4, 2012, Burton sold an assault rifle to an undercover agent and an undercover Detroit Police Office. The semi-automatic rifle was fully functional and capable of accepting a magazine that holds 30 rounds of ammunition. Burton also sold the undercover officers two 30-round, large capacity magazines, one of which was loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said: “We are committed to removing dangerous weapons from the hands of felons and from those engaged in illegal gun sales. We believe that removing illegal guns from our streets will help reduce our intolerably high homicide rate.”

McQuade praised the work of the Detroit Police Officers and ATF agents, demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and professionalism in their aggressive and thorough investigation of the case.