Cahokia Resident Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Possession Of A Firearm And Tampering With A Potential Witness

James L. Porter, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on March 17, 2016, Anthony D. Bradley, 27, Cahokia, IL, pled guilty to a three-count Superseding Indictment charging him, in Count 1, with the Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Previously Convicted Felon; and, in Counts 2 and 3, with Tampering with a Potential Witness.

On Count 1, Bradley faces a term of imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years, a fine up to $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of not more than three (3) years. On Counts 2 and 3, Bradley faces a term of imprisonment of not more than twenty (20) years, a fine up to $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of not more than three (3) years. Bradley also agreed to the forfeiture of the firearm he illegally possessed. Bradley’s sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2016, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Bradley has been detained, that is, held without bond, since his arraignment on September 2, 2015.

The charge in Count 1 arose on July 18, 2015, when a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle in which Bradley was a passenger. Prior to the vehicle stopping, the officer saw the Bradley, who was in the rear seat, bending towards the rear floorboard as if trying to hide something. After Bradley was removed from the rear seat, a firearm that had been partially concealed under the front driver’s seat was found on the rear floorboard. The officer noted from the position of the gun that it would have been impossible for either the driver or the front seat passenger to have placed the gun where he found it without him (the officer) having seen it before the vehicle stopped. In addition, both the driver and the front seat passenger were interviewed at the scene and both denied knowing that a gun was in the vehicle. Finally, the front seat passenger stated that she heard Bradley exclaim, "Damn," when the police pulled them over.

The charge in Count 2 arose when, on July 20, 2015, in a recorded jail call to K.M., Bradley asked K.M. to develop a false story that would involve K.M. leaving the gun, which was registered to K.M., in the vehicle without Bradley’s knowledge. Specifically, Bradley told K.M. to testify falsely that she got in the car and partially concealed the gun without Bradley’s knowledge. The charge in Count 3 arose later that same day when, in another recorded jail call to K.M., Bradley told K.M. to try to find witnesses to testify falsely that he/she/they saw K.M. sitting in the vehicle with Bradley prior to the July 18, 2015, traffic stop in which the gun was discovered.

The case was investigated by the Fairview Heights Police Department, the Illinois State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.