UTICA, N.Y. – Charles Harrison, 35, of Binghamton, is headed back to federal prison after a jury found him guilty of possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction. Harrison was sentenced today to 48 months behind bars, a penalty handed down by United States District Judge David N. Hurd.
The case began to unravel on March 29, 2022, when the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task Force tracked Harrison to an apartment in Binghamton. Harrison wasn’t just laying low; he was actively on the run, having absconded from a Connecticut halfway house where he was serving the tail end of a 2012 sentence for Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute controlled substances. Found hiding under a mattress, Harrison’s luck ran out. So did any claim to innocence.
But the discovery didn’t stop there. A search of the apartment revealed a loaded handgun in a bedroom adjacent to where Harrison had been concealed. Prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone and Thomas R. Sutcliffe, built a case linking Harrison directly to the weapon. Forensic evidence and witness testimony proved beyond a reasonable doubt he was the prohibited person in possession of the firearm, a clear violation of federal law.
U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman and U.S. Marshal David L. McNulty announced the sentencing, a joint effort highlighting the collaboration between federal agencies. The U.S. Marshals Service spearheaded the investigation, receiving crucial support from the ATF, New York State Police, Broome County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Binghamton Police Department. This wasn’t a solo operation; it was a coordinated takedown of a repeat offender.
Harrison’s criminal history paints a picture of someone unwilling to abide by the law. The 2012 drug conviction already marked him as a felon, stripping him of the right to legally own a firearm. His escape from the halfway house demonstrated a blatant disregard for the justice system. Now, with a 48-month sentence looming, Harrison will have ample time to contemplate his choices.
Judge Hurd didn’t stop at the prison sentence. Harrison will also be subject to three years of supervised release once he’s served his time, a measure intended to monitor his behavior and prevent further criminal activity. The case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries severe consequences, and that federal agencies will work together to bring offenders to justice.
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