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Table of Contents

Felon Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Gun Crime

A 31-year-old man from Capitol Heights, Maryland, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Claude Avery Rucker was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm, who also ordered Rucker to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division, and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on December 11, 2019, when Prince George’s County Police Department officers responded to a call reporting a parked vehicle in Capitol Heights. As officers approached the vehicle, they observed a silver vehicle with its low beams on, but no other vehicles with lights on at the scene.

When Rucker, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, was asked if he lived in the area, he informed police that his uncle lived at one of the nearby residences. However, when law enforcement asked Rucker to provide identification, he was unable to do so. Rucker was then asked to step out of the vehicle, at which time he shoved one law enforcement officer and attempted to flee on foot.

During the struggle, a Glock Model 19 9mm handgun loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition fell from Rucker’s waistband. Law enforcement performed a search incident to the arrest that recovered approximately 15.4 grams of marijuana from Rucker’s right jacket pocket.

Rucker had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term exceeding one year, and his civil rights had not been restored. Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight J. Draughon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig G. Fansler prosecuted the case. Rucker will serve his four-year prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release.