Jury Convicts Binghamton Felon and Escapee of Illegally Possessing a Firearm

UTICA, NEW YORK – On Friday evening, a jury voted to convict Charles Harrison, age 34, of Binghamton, New York, of being a felon in possession of a firearm, following a 4-day trial in Utica, New York.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York David L. McNulty made the announcement.

The trial evidence demonstrated that, following his 2012 conviction in the Northern District of New York for Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute controlled substances, Harrison was serving the final portion of his term of imprisonment at a halfway house in Connecticut.  Harrison absconded from the halfway house, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest for Escaping the Custody of the Attorney General.  On March 29, 2022, the United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force found Harrison hiding under a mattress in an apartment in Binghamton, New York.  The Marshals also located a loaded gun in the bedroom next to where Harrison was hiding.  Forensic and testimonial evidence presented at trial linked Harrison to the gun that was in the apartment, and the jury voted to convict him of possessing the gun as a prohibited person (previously convicted felon).

At sentencing scheduled for December 20, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd, Harrison faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case is being investigated by the United States Marshalls Service with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York State Police, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, and the Binghamton Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone and Thomas R. Sutcliffe.