Venice Man Sentenced For Firearm Offense

Justin J. Harper, 24, of Venice, Illinois, was sentenced in federal district court on September 30, 2013, to 100 months in prison, to be followed by three years supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $400 fine, for unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Court proceedings revealed that on October 5, 2011, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of a rear bedroom at a home in Venice, Illinois. Upon entering the residence, officers observed Harper exiting the bedroom. A search of the bedroom recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from underneath the bed.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.