Dustin Lee McLellan, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Alabama 2017

A 180-month prison sentence has been handed down to Dustin Lee McLellan, who was found guilty of illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon in two separate incidents in 2016 and 2017. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Richard W. Moore on July 18, 2018.

On August 7, 2017, a federal jury found McLellan guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm in Brewton, Alabama. The trial evidence revealed that on March 22, 2017, police officers from the Brewton Police Department encountered McLellan, who was passed out in his Chevrolet Corvette. The officers observed that McLellan was in possession of a loaded Davis Industries, model P32, .32 caliber, with one round in the chamber. Additionally, McLellan was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia at the time of his arrest.

On October 23, 2017, McLellan entered a guilty plea for illegally possessing a loaded Highpoint, model C-9, 9mm in Atmore, Alabama on or about August 19, 2016. The firearm was discovered as a result of a traffic stop.

The Court found that McLellan was an Armed Career Criminal under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) due to his prior violent felony and serious drug offense convictions. McLellan had two prior felony convictions in Alabama for first-degree burglary and one for attempted manufacture of a controlled substance in the second degree. As a result of his status as an Armed Career Criminal, McLellan was subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum term of incarceration for his firearm convictions.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Brewton Police Department, and the Atmore Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant United States Attorney George F. May, Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence J. Bullard, and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Megan S. Lewis for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose. McLellan will serve a term of imprisonment of 180 months followed by 5 years of supervised release for the illegal possession of firearms as a convicted felon.

This case highlights the importance of holding accountable those who engage in illegal activities, particularly those who possess firearms as convicted felons. The sentence handed down to McLellan serves as a reminder of the consequences of such actions and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to keeping our communities safe.

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