Cornelius Antoine Dean, Illegal Firearm Possession, Alabama 2023

Evergreen Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession

An Evergreen man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Cornelius Antoine Dean, 34, was arrested by Alabama State Troopers during a traffic stop in Evergreen on July 11, 2023. Troopers smelled marijuana emanating from a vehicle in which Dean was a passenger. During a pat-down search of Dean, Troopers located and seized a .45 caliber pistol in his waistband.

In the backseat of the vehicle, within reaching distance of Dean, agents found a bag containing multiple individually packaged baggies of marijuana and a digital scale near Dean’s Alabama identification card.

Dean admitted that he possessed the .45 caliber pistol and had previously been convicted of a felony drug-distribution crime. Dean’s prior felony conviction made his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.

Dean was sentenced to 46 months in prison and will serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. He was also ordered to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited his pistol to the United States.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Dean’s illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon is a serious crime that poses a significant threat to public safety. The sentence imposed by the court reflects the gravity of this offense and demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to holding individuals accountable for their actions.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Costello said, “The possession of firearms by convicted felons is a serious crime that can have devastating consequences. We will continue to work tirelessly to prevent such crimes and protect our communities.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdal/pr/evergreen-man-sentenced-46-months-prison-illegally-possessing-firearm-convicted-felon