Hamilton County Man Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Possessing Firearm

Sonny D. Southall, 29, of McLeansboro, Illinois, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Benton to an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment, returned by a Federal Grand Jury on July 9th, alleged that Southall possessed a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic pistol in White County on June 2, 2013. Prior to that date, Southall had been convicted of two felony offenses, making it illegal under federal law for him to possess firearms or ammunition. The firearm Southall possessed was stolen.

Sentencing was set for March 20, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States District Courthouse in Benton. At that time, Southall faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release to follow his incarceration.

Southall has been held without bond in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest on the federal charges in July. He was again remanded to the Marshal’s custody to await sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Carmi office of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force and the White County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.