MOBILE MAN ON FEDERAL SUPERVISION SENTENCED TO OVER 7 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY POSSESSING A FIREARM

MOBILE, AL – Vincent Cole, 35, of Mobile, was sentenced to prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm while on supervision for a previous federal conviction for carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.   

According to court documents, on March 10, 2023, Cole was arrested by Mobile Police Department (MPD) following a traffic stop and high-speed chase through a residential area in Mobile.  Cole initially stopped his car and spoke to MPD officers.  While speaking to the MPD officers, Cole sped off at a high speed.  MPD officers returned to their police cruiser and pursued him.  Cole lost control of his vehicle and slid off the road just over a quarter of a mile away from the initial traffic stop.  Cole climbed out of his car and was quickly apprehended.  MPD officers found a loaded Glock Model 19 firearm inside the glovebox of Cole’s car.  Cole admitted that he possessed the firearm found in the glovebox of his car.

Cole was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge.  United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Cole to 64 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.  

Because Cole was on federal supervision when he illegally possessed a firearm, Judge Moorer found that Cole violated the conditions of his supervised release term he was serving for his prior felony convictions.  Cole was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his new criminal conduct while on supervision, to run consecutive to his 64-month sentence.    

U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin D. Kopf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.