Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Firearm

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man who is a previously convicted felon was sentenced today to 7 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

According to court documents, Antonio Patterson, 28, was observed by Richmond Police speeding in a car. After the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Patterson led the officers on a high-speed chase before he drove his car into a median and ran from the vehicle on foot before he was apprehended a short distance away. A search of the car revealed a 9mm handgun equipped with an extended 30-round magazine. The officers also recovered a large amount of marijuana in the trunk of the car. Patterson admitted to possessing the firearm after being convicted of a felony. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Duffey prosecuted the case.

The Richmond Police Department provide significant assistance with this prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:18-cr-146.