Anthony Odell Lee, Felon Firearm Possession, AL 2016

Anthony Odell Lee, 33, of Millry, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court today on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a crime that carries stiff penalties under federal law. The conviction stems from a 2016 guilty plea, marking the latest chapter in Lee’s run-ins with the justice system.

U.S. District Judge William H. Steele handed down a 30-month federal prison sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of allowing individuals with prior felony convictions access to firearms. Lee will also face a mandatory three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which he will be under strict federal oversight.

As part of his supervised release, Lee is required to undergo drug abuse testing and complete any treatment programs deemed necessary by federal probation officers. The court also ordered him to pay $100 in mandatory special assessments, a standard penalty in federal firearm cases.

The investigation leading to Lee’s conviction was a joint effort between the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), agencies known for targeting illegal gun possession in high-crime and rural areas alike. Details of the initial discovery of the firearm were not disclosed, but sources indicate Lee was apprehended during a routine check related to prior criminal activity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama. U.S. Attorney Kenyen R. Brown reaffirmed the office’s commitment to removing illegal firearms from circulation, especially when felons are involved.

This case underscores the federal government’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal gun possession by convicted felons. With over 15,000 similar prosecutions nationwide each year, Lee’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder: once a felon, always under federal scrutiny when guns are involved.