FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 29, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
TAUNTON MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON ON GUN CHARGE
BOSTON, MA - A Taunton man was sentenced late yesterday in federal court for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks, Glen N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Boston Field Division, Colonel Mark Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police and Chief Scott K. Labonte of the Berkley Police Department announced that JAMES LEONARD, age 34, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole to 15 years imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. On December 17, 2008, LEONARD was convicted by a trial jury of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented at trial proved that on March 31, 2007, LEONARD fled on foot when a Berkley Police cruiser pulled over the taxi cab in which he was riding. LEONARD left a loaded .22 caliber pistol in the back seat of the taxi cab.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Massachusetts State Police and the Berkley Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. DiSantis of Loucks’ Economic Crimes Unit.
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