William Hawkins, Selling Firearm to Felon and Possessing Firearm, Indiana 2020

Gary Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Selling Firearm to Felon and Possessing Firearm

A Gary man has been sentenced to 78 months in prison for selling a firearm to a felon and being in possession of a firearm himself, the U.S. Attorney's office announced.

William Hawkins, 22, pleaded guilty to selling a .380 caliber pistol to another individual on January 24, 2020, in Gary, Indiana. Hawkins, who had a prior felony conviction for dealing marijuana, knew the buyer to be a felon at the time of the sale.

Hawkins was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 78 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team (GRIT) and the Gary Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra McTague prosecuted the case.

The case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which aims to reduce violent crime. The PSN program focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Hawkins' prior felony conviction for dealing marijuana made his possession of the firearm illegal. The sale of the firearm to a felon is also a serious offense, and Hawkins will now face the consequences of his actions.

The sentence handed down to Hawkins is a reflection of the seriousness of the crimes he committed. The PSN program will continue to work towards reducing violent crime in the community through enforcement and prevention efforts.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/gary-man-sentenced-78-months-prison