News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
February 9, 2012
Armed Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A 21-year-old Providence man, previously convicted in Rhode Island state court for drug trafficking, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Providence to 37 months in federal prison on a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi also sentenced Rashad Muskelly to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his federal prison sentence.
Muskelly was arrested by Providence Police in April 2011 following a brief foot chase. Muskelly tossed a loaded firearm over a fence as he was attempting to elude police.
Muskelly’s sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, on April 10th, 2011, at about 11:30 p.m. in South Providence, two Providence Police Officers pulled over an Oldsmobile Cutlass for a faulty tail light. As the police got out of their cruiser, the Cutlass drove off. The officers followed in their car through several streets until the Cutlass came to a stop. Four men jumped out and ran in different directions. The officers pursued Muskelly on foot.
With an officer close behind, Muskelly pulled an object from his waistband, threw it over a fence and continued running. The police caught Muskelly and then returned to the fence and found a loaded semi-automatic 9mm pistol. The barrel of the pistol was concealed in a black leather glove.
On November 10, 2011, Muskelly pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, as charged in a federal grand jury indictment returned on May 25, 2011.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard B. Sullivan and Zechariah Chafee.
The matter was investigated by Providence Police with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov
