Dallas County Man Receives 46 Month Sentence for Possession of a Firearm After Felony Conviction

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that George Armstead, a 28 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 46 months incarceration for possession of a pistol after being convicted of Robbery First Degree.

On September 14, 2018, Armstead entered a guilty pled and admitted in open court that on May 22, 2018, a Selma, AL police officer initiated a traffic stop on a green Honda being driven by Armstead for speeding.  During a routine records check, using Armstead’s driver’s license information, the officer learned that Armstead had an outstanding warrant.  The officer told Armstead he was going to be arrested based on the warrant and asked Armstead if he has weapons or contraband in the vehicle because it would be towed.  Armstead told the officer that “his brother’s firearm” was inside the vehicle underneath the passenger seat.  The firearm was seized.  It is described as a   Smith & Wesson, .40 caliber pistol.  The firearm had been reported stolen sometime prior to May 22, 2018.  Later that day, Armstead was Mirandized and agreed to talk to police.  The interview was recorded.  Armstead said that the firearm was his and that he placed it underneath the passenger seat.  Armstead said that he bought the firearm “off the street” for $100 because he thought it was being sold for a good price.  Armstead also said that he bought the pistol for protection.  He further said that he was a felon and was on state probation for Robbery 1st Degree.  Armstead said that he was not a bad guy.  At that time, Armstead had been convicted of a felony, Robbery First Degree on April 6, 2015 in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-2013-000146.

Officers of the Selma, Alabama Police Department along with special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney=s Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.