William McKinney, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Rhode Island 2012

A Providence felon is behind bars for 37 months after being found guilty of a firearm charge.

William McKinney, 23, of Providence, was sentenced on Thursday to 37 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered McKinney to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. McKinney pleaded guilty on August 26, 2013, to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to information presented to the court, on December 28, 2012, a Providence Police patrolman and a Rhode Island State Police trooper working together in a marked cruiser on routine patrol encountered McKinney. As the patrolman attempted to speak with McKinney, he pivoted the right side of his body away from the officer, began to back away, turned and ran. As the patrolman and State Police trooper pursued him through the backyard of a Southside residence, McKinney tossed a loaded handgun to the ground.

Mckinney was apprehended a short distance away and the officers retrieved the firearm, a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol which contained eight hollow point bullets. McKinney admitted to Providence Police that he had been in possession of the firearm because he had “beefs with people” and mentioned the recent homicide of a relative.

Mckinney had been convicted previously in state court on drug possession and drug trafficking charges. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages the public to report any information about crime to the authorities. If you have any information about this case, please call 401-709-5357 or email USARI.Media@usdoj.gov.

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