United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

LOCAL FELON SENTENCED TO 21 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON
FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARM AND AMMUNITION

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA— Leura G. Canary, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, announced today that Willie K. Warren, age 24, of Hayneville, Alabama, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Warren previously pled guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1). On November 29, 2006, in Lowndes County, Warren possessed a .38 caliber revolver and a box of .32 caliber ammunition, despite having a previous felony conviction for Possession/Receipt of a Controlled Substance. For possessing the handgun and ammunition, Warren was sentenced in federal district court to a term of 21 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Warren was also ordered to forfeit the firearm.

The case was investigated as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods and Middle District of Alabama’s Alabama ICE programs which is aimed at preventing violent crime and the illegal possession of firearms. According to United States Attorney Leura G. Canary, “This case helps to send the message that convicted felons will not be allowed to possess firearms in this district, and if caught and convicted, they will go to federal prison.”

This case was investigated through the joint efforts of the Alabama Department of Parole and Probation, Hayneville Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Shepherd.