Derek L. Winston Sentenced for Felon in Possession of Firearm

Derek L. Winston, 39, of Irvington, Alabama, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to a year and a day for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was handed down this morning in federal court by U.S. District Judge William H. Steele, marking the end of a case rooted in dangerous criminal behavior.

Winston pleaded guilty in November 2016 to the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm—a crime that carries stiff penalties under federal law, especially for individuals with prior convictions. The offense is no minor paperwork violation; it’s a direct threat to public safety, putting guns in the hands of those already proven dangerous.

Judge Steele also ordered Winston to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. During that time, he will be under the watchful eye of federal probation officers, required to comply with strict conditions, and barred from any contact with firearms. No fine was imposed, but the cost of his choices will be measured in lost freedom.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), agencies that routinely collar offenders in illegal gun cases across the Southern District of Alabama. Their collaboration ensured Winston’s possession of the weapon didn’t go unnoticed or unpunished.

Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, successfully securing a prison term that reflects the seriousness of illegal gun possession. U.S. Attorney Kenyen R. Brown emphasized that federal prosecutors will continue to pursue such cases aggressively, particularly where public safety is on the line.

Winston’s case serves as a stark reminder: once a felon, always under federal scrutiny. The moment a gun enters the equation, the consequences are severe. In Alabama’s federal courts, there’s no second chance for those who arm themselves in violation of the law.