Convicted Felon Caught with Loaded Gun in Hotel Room
A federal jury has found Eric Chambers, 42, of Harrisburg, guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The conviction came after a two-day trial in U.S. District Court before Judge William W. Caldwell.
According to prosecutors, Chambers had an active arrest warrant in Dauphin County for attempted murder in September 2011. On January 9, 2012, police received a tip that Chambers was at the Red Roof Inn on Eisenhower Blvd. in Harrisburg. Law enforcement from federal, state, and local agencies responded and arrested Chambers without incident.
A search of the hotel room revealed a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and a loaded magazine hidden in the trash can. Chambers was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2012 as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Harrisburg Bureau Police Department, and the Swatara Police Department.
Chambers was also recently convicted of attempted murder and other charges in Dauphin County. He is awaiting sentencing on both the federal and county convictions. The federal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Taylor.
The maximum penalty under the federal statute for the offense is life imprisonment, with a 15-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Chambers’ sentencing is pending, with Judge Caldwell to consider the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after considering the nature, circumstances, and seriousness of the offense, as well as the history and characteristics of the defendant, and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public, and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational, and medical needs.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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