FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
April
29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR GUN POSSESSION
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Kenneth Ward, age 46, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, today to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possessing a gun after four previous felony convictions, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to his guilty plea, on May 9, 2008 a Prince George’s police officer attempted to stop Ward who was driving a car in Hyattsville with a shattered windshield and a license plate that did not belong to the car. Ward began driving at a high rate of speed to flee from the officer. At one point, he almost struck a woman pushing a child in a stroller. Ward then drove his car onto a bike path in Magruder Park until he lost control of the car, which went over a hill and into the Anacostia River. Ward fled from the car, swam across the river and escaped. Police recovered a loaded revolver from the car.
Ward was prohibited from possessing a gun as a result of four previous drug, assault and burglary convictions.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Gina L. Simms, who prosecuted the case.