FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
November 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GLEN BURNIE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM AND IS SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON
First Defendant Prosecuted Federally Under the Capital City Safe Streets Coalition
Baltimore, Maryland - Chauncey Thompson, age 34, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. In imposing today’s sentence Judge Davis found Thompson to be an armed career criminal, based on previous convictions for assault, burglary and a narcotics violation.
According to the plea agreement, on October 17, 2007 Annapolis Police officers received a tip that Thompson was at Town Pines Court in Annapolis and that he had a gun. Officers went to that location and found Thompson, ordering him to the ground. Officers recovered a loaded .357 Smith and Wesson revolver from Thompson’s waistband, covered by a blue handkerchief.
Thompson was the first defendant prosecuted in federal court under the Capital City Safe Streets Coalition, which establishes partnerships between the City of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, state and federal agencies to focus on crime reduction.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Annapolis Police Department and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Frank Weathersbee and his office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who is prosecuting the case.