Kasmiel Samuel Sumrall, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, East Sain…

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: A hard-hitting federal charge has been leveled against Kasmiel Samuel Sumrall, a 28-year-old East Saint Louis resident. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, revealed that Sumrall was arraigned today following his indictment by a federal grand jury on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The offense is no laughing matter; it carries a stern penalty with up to ten years in federal prison, a quarter-million-dollar fine, and three years of supervised release. Sumrall remains in custody as he awaits trial scheduled for April 20, 2015.

According to the charges, on October 6, 2014, Sumrall, also known as ‘Kash,’ was caught with a loaded 9-mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol, its magazine, and ten rounds of ammunition in Saint Clair County. His previous convictions do not bode well; he had been found guilty of Aggravated Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police on October 30, 2007.

It’s worth noting that an indictment is merely a formal charge, with the defendant presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a fair trial.

The investigation into this case was a collaborative effort by the East Saint Louis Housing Authority, the East Saint Louis Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Liam Coonan.

Stay tuned as we continue to bring you the gritty details of this high-stakes trial.