Belleville Man Sentenced To Prison Term For Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

Courtney Darris, 22, of Belleville, Illinois, was sentenced to 70 months in prison in the federal district court for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Previously Convicted Felon, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Darris was also order to pay a $100 special assessment, a $500 fine and to serve a term of 2 years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Darris has been in custody since his arrest on September 17, 2012.

“I hope that cases like this will help send out messages that my office will continue to vigorously prosecute any illegal use of firearms and that the penalties are severe.” said United States Attorney Wigginton.

Court documents establish that on September 17, 2012 at 5:00 p.m., Darris was standing outside the Food Mart on Carlyle Avenue in Belleville, Illinois when a vehicle pulled onto the lot. At that time, Darris withdrew a firearm from his backpack and fired several shots in the direction of the vehicle. Darris was arrested later that same day and found to be in possession of a Hi-Point 9mm pistol with a fully loaded magazine. The serial number of the firearm had been filed off. Darris agreed to a recorded interview with law enforcement at which time he admitted to being in possession of the firearm and to shooting the gun in the direction of the vehicle while at the Food Mart.

The investigation was conducted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.