Mobile Felon Gets 37 Months for Packed Pistol

MOBILE, AL – Unterrio Cartrelle Tate, 22, of Mobile, Alabama, is headed to federal prison for 37 months after being sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge William H. Steele. Tate, a twice-convicted felon, was found guilty of knowingly possessing a firearm, a violation of federal law. The sentence, handed down today, also includes a $100 special assessment, three years of supervised release, and a hefty $4,994.10 in restitution.

The trouble started back in July 2016. The U.S. Marshal Service – Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force was on the hunt for Tate, acting on a felony warrant for a probation violation. They located him on July 20, 2016, behind the wheel of a vehicle at a gas station in Prichard, Alabama, with another occupant in the passenger seat. When officers attempted to execute the warrant, Tate didn’t cooperate. He slammed the car into reverse, ramming one of the task force vehicles.

It was during the ensuing arrest that the weapon came to light. As officers pulled Tate from the driver’s seat, a .40 caliber Taurus pistol was in plain view, wedged between the seat and the center console. Investigators later confirmed the gun was loaded with one round in the chamber. Tate’s prior convictions made simple possession a serious federal offense.

Records show Tate isn’t a stranger to the justice system. On May 19, 2014, he was convicted in Mobile County Circuit Court on charges of discharging a firearm into an occupied building or vehicle and second-degree assault. This history barred him from legally owning a firearm. A federal grand jury indicted Tate in August 2016, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to the single count of being a felon in possession on November 17, 2016.

The U.S. Marshal Service – Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force spearheaded the investigation, relentlessly tracking Tate and gathering the evidence needed for prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Sinan Kalayoglu handled the case for the government, securing the conviction and pushing for a significant sentence.

This case serves as a stark reminder that repeat offenders, especially those illegally possessing firearms, will face serious consequences under federal law. The Southern District of Alabama, under U.S. Attorney Kenyen R. Brown, continues to prioritize cases involving violent crime and firearms violations to keep communities safe.