Press Release
Contact:
MAARTEN VERMAAT
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (906) 226-2500
THREE FELONS SENTENCED FOLLOWING CONVICTIONS FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN – Three previously convicted felons, each of whom was found in possession of firearms or ammunition in separate investigations, were sentenced to federal prison terms, U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today. Brian Kenneth Anderson, age 46, of Laurium, Michigan; Richard Timothy Mansfield, age 51, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Jeremy Michael Sullivan, age 31, of Sagola, Michigan were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell.
Anderson received 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Officers from the Laurium and Calumet Police Departments found Anderson in possession of a handgun and a shotgun while performing a well-being check at Anderson’s residence. Anderson’s case was subsequently turned over to Special Agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for investigation and prosecution. Anderson faced a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Richard Mansfield received a sentence of 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Special Agents and Law Enforcement Officers of the U.S. Forest Service discovered Mansfield living in a lean-to structure in the Hiawatha National Forest on July 30, 2008. He had numerous firearms in his possession, which he stated he intended to use for subsistence hunting. Mansfield also faced a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Following Mansfield’s sentencing, the U.S. Forest Service noted that the Mansfield case illustrated that a wide variety of dangerous crimes can occur on our public lands. However, the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations Division is committed to investigating these crimes, apprehending the violators, and seeking prosecution. The Mansfield case demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Forest Service to protecting visitors to the National Forest, U.S. Forest Service employees, and America’s natural resources.
Jeremy Sullivan was sentenced to 188 months (15-1/2 years) in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Troopers from the Michigan State Police contacted Sullivan while investigating a burglary at the Sportsman’s Club in Sagola, Michigan last June. During the course of this contact, Sullivan was found in possession of 245 rounds of 20 gauge shotgun ammunition and a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle. His case was then turned over to ATF for investigation and prosecution. Sullivan has multiple prior convictions for violent felonies and, as a result, qualified as an “armed career criminal” who faced a minimum of 15 years in prison and could have been sentenced to life in prison.
Following Sullivan’s sentencing, ATF Special Agent in Charge Thomas E. Brandon stated, “ATF’s primary mission is to protect America’s neighborhoods from violent crime. We strive to keep firearms out of the hands of those who cannot lawfully possess them by aggressively investigating and referring for federal prosecution armed career criminals, armed drug dealers, and other violent offenders. The sentence imposed in the Sullivan case will ensure that this repeat and violent offender is off our streets for the next 15 years.”
Each of the three defendants was charged by a federal grand jury with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. All three later pled guilty to this offense under the terms of plea agreements with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the multiple law enforcement agencies involved in these cases for their fine work.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maarten Vermaat prosecuted these cases on behalf of the United States
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