Baltimore felon Adrian Austin, 35, caved under pressure just before prosecutors began tearing into his story on the third day of trial, pleading guilty December 14, 2016, to possession of a stolen .40 caliber handgun—found during a narcotics-related raid on his home.
The plea, entered in U.S. District Court, came moments before Austin was set to face cross-examination. The reversal spared prosecutors from calling additional witnesses, but not before they’d already laid bare evidence linking Austin to the firearm, which had been reported stolen prior to its recovery.
On October 14, 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Austin’s residence as part of a broader investigation into drug distribution. Inside a living room closet, agents seized the stolen handgun and one ammunition magazine. A second magazine and a box of .40 caliber rounds were found in another closet—neither magazine compatible with the firearm.
After being read his rights, Austin admitted he obtained the gun for protection. But with prior felony convictions on his record, federal law bars him from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He further admitted, per his plea agreement, that the circumstances of the acquisition made it clear the weapon had been stolen.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Hanlon and Matthew M. DellaBetta. U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the collaboration between the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, calling the outcome a blow to gun violence in high-crime neighborhoods.
Austin now faces up to 10 years behind bars. Sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar. No plea deal mitigated the maximum penalty, leaving the final call in the judge’s hands.
Related Federal Cases
- Baltimore Felon William Warren Gets 15 Years for Gun Possession · Maryland
- Maryland Felon Gets 8 Years for Gun Deal · Maryland
- Felon with Gun Lands in Federal Crosshairs · Maryland
- Daniel Hill Gets 10 Years for Stolen Gun Possession · Illinois
- Barry Terry Gets 15 Years for Baltimore Gun Possession · Maryland
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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