bethel man convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms
Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that after deliberating for several hours, a federal jury in Anchorage found a Bethel man guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
On August 9, 2011, John Robert Weber, 42, of Bethel, Alaska, was tried before Senior United States District Judge H. Russel Holland.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that Weber possessed two shotguns and one rifle at his tattoo shop in Bethel, in August 2010. Weber has multiple felony convictions dating back to 1988, from Alaska, Nevada, and Oregon.
Judge Holland scheduled sentencing for October 21, 2011. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Because of his criminal history, Weber might be classified as an armed career criminal, and eligible for a 15 year mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment. Under the federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, Weber remains in custody.
Weber is being prosecuted as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska’s Rural Prosecution Initiative, a part of the Department of Justice’s commitment to improve public safety for rural Alaska and Alaskan tribal communities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Alaska State Troopers conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.
