Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than Four Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

United States District Judge Annemarie C. Axon sentenced Billy Keith Hamilton, 42, of Midfield, Alabama, to 24 months in prison on a supervised release revocation. Hamilton was also sentenced to a consecutive 27 months in prison based on his guilty plea to charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, resulting in a total of 51 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

According to the plea agreement, on July 13, 2024, a state trooper with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency initiated a traffic stop of Hamilton. The state trooper informed Hamilton that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and asked him to exit the vehicle. Hamilton initially complied, then fled the scene with his minor children in the vehicle. After a chase through several cities, Hamilton arrived at his own neighborhood, abandoned his children and vehicle, and fled on foot into the woods while wearing a backpack. After a short pursuit, Hamilton was apprehended. The state trooper recovered a stolen Springfield XD .45 caliber pistol from Hamilton’s backpack. 

ATF investigated the case along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Keown, Sr. prosecuted the case.