Felon Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison For Illegally Possessing Cartridges

PITTSBURGH - Elanda Bell has been sentenced in federal court to 34 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal firearm laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond imposed the sentence on Bell, 56, who has no known permanent address.

According to information presented to the court, between Jan. 3, 2008, and June 29, 2013, Bell possessed ten .41 Caliber cartridges. Bell had previously been convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year from possessing ammunition or firearm.

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clairton Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bell.