Detroit Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Antonio Parnell, 42, from Detroit, Michigan, pled guilty today to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Stuart praised the investigation by the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).   

“Parnell was a threat to the safety of our citizens and our police officers,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “That’s why I am committed to locking up persons who ignore federal gun laws away from our communities.”

On April 14, 2018, Parnell got into a violent altercation with two victims and with officers from the Charleston Police Department. Parnell had a firearm in his possession that he threw when the officers approached him.  He was arrested and has been in custody since that day.  Parnell has three felony convictions under three different names.  He faces up to ten years in prison when he is sentenced on December 5, 2018.

United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the plea hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Steve Loew is handling the prosecution.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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