Mobile County Man Receives 70 Month Sentence for Possession of a Firearm After Felony Conviction

     The United States Attorney, Richard W. Moore, announces that Brandon Pettaway, a 24 year old, resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to 70 months incarceration followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm after being convicted of two felonies, namely, Burglary Third Degree and Robbery First Degree.
     On January 9, 2017, Mobile, Alabama police officers conducted an undercover drug (UC) operation that targeted Pettaway.  An UC officer called Pettaway and asked for $40.00 worth of cocaine.  They agreed upon a place to make the transaction.  Officers waited for Pettaway to arrive with the cocaine.  Pettaway arrived in a Jeep and was immediately arrested.  Pettaway possessed approximately 20 grams of cocaine and approximately 14.5 grams of marijuana.  Located inside the Jeep was a Smith & Wesson, model M&P, 9mm pistol.  After Miranda warnings, Pettaway stated that he knew this was a “setup” and that he purchases “1.5 cookies of crack at a time.”  Pettaway further stated the he purchased the firearm from a 16 year old male and he knew the firearm was stolen when he purchased it.  Pettaway pled guilty on October 16, 2017.
     Mobile, Alabama police officers along with special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated the case and presented it to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case was Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.