Previously Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 15-Year Maximum for New Federal Gun Crime

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Yesterday, a district court judge sentenced an East St. Louis man to 15 years of federal imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm. This was the maximum sentence allowable by law. 

Anthony D. Bradley, Jr., 37, was found guilty by a federal jury in May for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Bradley has several prior criminal convictions, including a state conviction for second degree murder and multiple state and federal charges involving illegal firearm possession. Bradley stipulated prior to trial that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct. 

“This convicted murderer got out of state prison and carried a loaded gun, modified to function as a machine gun, through a public housing complex,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “We did not plead this case out. We tried it, the jury spoke, and he got the maximum sentence in federal prison. As he should.”

The evidence presented at trial revealed that in October 2024 Bradley was observed possessing a firearm by law enforcement officers during a proactive crime suppression detail that included the John De Shields housing complex in East St. Louis. The firearm was loaded with fourteen rounds of ammunition and had a machinegun conversion device installed. In October 2024, Bradley was under federal supervised release for a prior firearms offense. 

Following trial, Bradley entered a stipulation and consent to forfeit the firearm to the United States.

“Because of the persistence of the Illinois State Police and our partners getting guns and dangerous criminals off the street, this convicted felon will spend years in a federal prison,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Convicted felons who repeatedly break the law threaten public safety and the Illinois State Police will continue to dedicate resources to protect our communities.”

Following imprisonment, Bradley will serve three years of supervised release. 

The Illinois State Police led this investigation with assistance from its Public Safety Enforcement Group and Firearms Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Arshi and Ali Burns prosecuted the case. 

This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.