Mekivil Julius Franklin, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, California 2018

Crime: Oakland Man Leads Police on Lengthy Chase Before Crash and Arrest

Oakland, California - Mekivil Julius Franklin, a 49-year-old man from Oakland, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to papers filed by the government, Franklin was driving in Oakland on August 2, 2018, when police attempted to stop him. Rather than yielding to the police, Franklin drove away, leading police on a lengthy chase that reached speeds of 90 or 100 MPH on the I-880 freeway. The pursuit ended when Franklin crashed into a police vehicle in the intersection of 9th Avenue and East 12th Street in Oakland.

Two Oakland Police Department officers sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash. Franklin seriously injured himself as well. Police found that Franklin was in possession of a loaded Ruger pistol.

Franklin pleaded guilty to the charge on October 11, 2019. He acknowledged in his plea agreement that he had been previously convicted of felonies, making him ineligible to possess a firearm or ammunition.

A federal grand jury indicted Franklin on September 18, 2018, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

Franklin was sentenced to a three-year period of supervised release in addition to the prison term. He is currently in custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Kopczynski with the assistance of Helen Yee and Adrienne DelaPena. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Oakland Police Department.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/oakland-man-sentenced-over-three-years-prison-possession-firearm-and-ammunition