Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm

ABILENE, Texas — A convicted felon from Abilene, Texas, who pleaded guilty to a federal firearm offense, was sentenced today, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Brandon Joseph Cormier, 26, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis. Cormier pleaded guilty in February 2015 to an indictment charging one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to documents filed in the case and information presented during court hearings, Cormier admitted that he is a convicted felon and that on September 10, 2014, he knowingly possessed a Bersa, 380 Plus, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. That same day, Cormier was allegedly involved in a shooting following a traffic stop by a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer in Nolan County. During that stop, Cormier allegedly retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and fired shots at the DPS officer.

The Texas Ranger Division of the Texas DPS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Juanita Fielden prosecuted.