Marlon A. Straw, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Rhode Island 2016

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Jamaican national has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and illegal re-entry into the United States, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

Marlon A. Straw, 45, of Hyde Park, Mass., pleaded guilty on May 23, 2016, as charged in an indictment returned in May 2015, with one count each of felon in possession of a firearm and illegal re-entry.

According to information presented to the court, on March 31, 2015, a car driven by the defendant’s wife was stopped by Rhode Island State Police on Route 95 in Exeter for speeding. During the traffic stop, Marlon Straw, who was not carrying any personal identifying information, provided troopers with multiple names, none of which were his true identity.

Straw was detained and brought to the State Police Hope Valley barracks where troopers learned his true identity through a check of his fingerprints. While in custody, troopers discovered a loaded .45 caliber pistol containing hollow point bullets tucked into the defendant’s long underwear and sock.

A criminal background check conducted by the Rhode Island State Police revealed that Straw had previously been convicted of a felony crime punishable by imprisonment of a term exceeding one year. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records showed that Straw was previously removed from the United States and was deported to Jamaica on August 29, 2013.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.

Straw will serve three years supervised release upon completion of his prison term and is subject to deportation proceedings following completion of his term of incarceration.

Contact: Jim Martin (401) 709-5357, email: USARI.Media@usdoj.gov, on Twitter @USAO_RI.

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