Anton Coker, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, California 2016

OAKLAND – A local resident has landed himself a nine-year prison sentence after being found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a crime that carries severe penalties. Anton Coker, 42, of Oakland, California, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment by the Honorable Jeffrey S. White, United States District Judge, following a guilty plea entered on April 19, 2016.

As part of his plea agreement, Coker admitted he had previous felony convictions that prevent him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition. Despite this, he was found to have possessed and sold five guns and ammunition to a confidential informant and undercover agents between June 30, 2015, and July 31, 2015. During the same period, Coker also sold crack cocaine from his Oakland residence.

Agents executed a search warrant at Coker’s residence and the storage unit next to it on August 17, 2015. In the storage unit, agents seized two more handguns and ammunition, which Coker admitted belonged to him. Coker was indicted on August 27, 2015, and charged with four counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

Pursuant to his plea agreement, Coker pleaded guilty to one count and admitted the conduct underlying the other three counts, which were dismissed. Judge White also sentenced Coker to a three-year period of supervised release, to commence after Coker completes his prison sentence.

Coker has been in custody since his arrest in January 2016. He will begin serving his sentence immediately. The case was the result of an investigation by the ATF with the assistance of the United States Marshal’s Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas Lerman is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Barton and Jeanne Carstensen.

The harsh penalty meted out to Coker serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of violating federal firearms laws.

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