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Felon’s Firearms Sentence Hits 78 Months
DETROIT – Detroit resident William Henry Berry, 30, was sentenced to 78 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $52,536.00 after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, Berry came to the attention of the FBI during an investigation into a series of shootings between rival gangs in the Detroit area. Phone records placed Berry’s cell phone at the scene of four of those shootings.
During a subsequent search of Berry’s home agents recovered a loaded American Tactical Omni Hybrid outfitted with a “red dot” sight. Berry, who was on parole at the time, having previously been convicted of armed robbery, was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The investigation revealed that Berry had used the stolen identities to obtain over $52,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits. “Berry committed these serious felonies while on state parole demonstrating his contempt for the law,” said acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Mohsin commended the work of the FBI in investigating this case, stating that Berry chose not to become a productive member of society but instead returned to violent criminal activity, identity theft, and fraud. “There is no parole in the federal system. Today’s sentence protects the public by ensuring Berry will remain incarcerated for a significant period of time,” Mohsin added.
Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters of the FBI in Detroit also commented on the case, stating that it is an example of how violent criminals have diversified their illegal activities in an attempt to thwart enforcement efforts. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and shut down criminal enterprises in any form,” Waters said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Picek. Berry was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephen J. Murphy in Detroit.
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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