Pawtucket Felon Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison On Firearm Charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jamal Bannister, 20, of Pawtucket, R.I., and Dorchester, Mass., was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Pawtucket Police Chief Paul King.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered Bannister to serve 3 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. Bannister pleaded guilty on October 17, 2013, to one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. No plea agreement was filed in this matter.

According to information presented to the court at the time of Bannister’s guilty plea, on June 27, 2013, members of the Pawtucket Police Department executed a court authorized search warrant at Bannisters residence. While searching the defendant’s bedroom, a Pawtucket detective discovered and seized a loaded .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol and additional ammunition. The serial number on the firearm had been ground off and was unreadable.

Jamal Bannister has been detained since his arrest. According to information presented to the court, records of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts show that Bannister was convicted of crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year in December 2011.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen G. Dambruch and Adi Goldstein.

An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Pawtucket Police Department detectives in the investigation of this matter.

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