FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               CONTACT:  DAVILYN WALSTON
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009                                           PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe                         PHONE: (409) 839-2538 CELL: (409) 553-9881

HOUSTON MAN GUILTY OF FEDERAL FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

            BEAUMONT, TX – United States Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory announced today that a 48-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

           CHARLES VAN BROWN pleaded guilty today to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm before United States Magistrate Judge Earl S. Hines.
 
            According to information presented in court, on Nov. 6, 2007, Brown was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his wife when they were stopped by a Vidor Police Officer for a traffic violation.  During the traffic stop, a search was conducted which revealed a pistol and ammunition in the vehicle.  Further investigation revealed that Brown was a convicted felon, having previously been convicted for delivery of a controlled substance in 1997, possession of a controlled substance in 1992, and aggravated robbery in 1988, all in Harris County, Texas.  As a convicted felon, Brown is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
      
            Brown faces up to 10 years federal prison at sentencing.  A sentencing date has not been set.

            This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Vidor Police Department and the Beaumont Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall L. Fluke.

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