Howard Eugene Piatt Press Release (Guilty Plea)

October 5, 2009
For Immediate Release

DENT COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGE

St. Louis, MO: Howard Eugene Piatt pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegal possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.

HOWARD EUGENE PIATT , of Salem, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm involving his July 3, 2009, possession of a .22 caliber rifle. Due to his criminal history, Piatt is forbidden by law to own or possess firearms. He appeared before United States District Judge Rodney Sippel.

He now faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on December 18, 2009.

This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which seeks to prevent violent crime through enforcement of federal firearms laws, such as the law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms.

Reap commended the work performed on the case by the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Dent County Sheriff, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant United States Attorney Michael Bert, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI MICHAEL W. REAP Acting United States Attorney	NEWS RELEASE
For further information call (314) 539-2200
October 5, 2009 For Immediate Release DENT COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGE St. Louis, MO: Howard Eugene Piatt pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegal possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today. HOWARD EUGENE PIATT , of Salem, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm involving his July 3, 2009, possession of a .22 caliber rifle. Due to his criminal history, Piatt is forbidden by law to own or possess firearms. He appeared before United States District Judge Rodney Sippel. He now faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on December 18, 2009. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which seeks to prevent violent crime through enforcement of federal firearms laws, such as the law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms. Reap commended the work performed on the case by the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Dent County Sheriff, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant United States Attorney Michael Bert, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.