Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 3½ Years for Illegally Possessing Guns and Ammunition

PITTSBURGH, PA-- A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 40 months’ imprisonment on his convictions of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

United States District Judge Nicholas J. Ranjan imposed the sentence on Clayton Sowell, age 28. 

In connection with the sentencing, the court was advised that in the early evening of December 19, 2019, Pittsburgh Police conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Clayton Sowell. During the traffic stop, officers recovered a loaded handgun with an extended pistol magazine containing 17 rounds of ammunition in the driver’s side door. Law enforcement determined that this firearm was previously reported stolen.

The court was further advised that in the late morning of April 28, 2020, an officer of the Penn Hills Police Department conducted a separate traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Mr. Sowell. During the traffic stop, law enforcement recovered a loaded handgun with an extended pistol magazine containing 18 rounds of ammunition in Mr. Sowell’s front waistband.

Finally, the Court was advised that Mr. Sowell has two prior felony convictions. On May 21, 2012, Mr. Sowell pled guilty to Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer in the Court of Common Pleas, County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On June 20, 2016, Mr. Sowell pled guilty to Firearms Not to be Carried Without a License in the Court of Common Pleas, County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. Mckenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Penn Hills Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Sowell.