East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Illegally Possessing Assault Rifle

Willie Springer, 36, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Previously Convicted Felon in East St. Louis, Illinois.

Springer was arrested on July 16, 2012 after an Illinois State Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with no front or rear registration plates. The trooper spotted Springer holding a black SKS assault rifle and attempted to apprehend him, but Springer fled into an occupied apartment complex.

Springer ignored repeated commands to stop and drop the firearm, at which time the trooper gave the command for his K9 officer to apprehend Springer. The firearm was determined to be a Norinco SKS M semi-automatic rifle, 7.62 x 39 mm caliber.

A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed a 50-round American Tactical magazine that fit the SKS rifle, a black hooded zombie-style Halloween mask, a white Jason-style Halloween mask, and open alcohol. The investigation was conducted by the WAVE Task Force, which focuses on combating violent crime in East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities.

The case was prosecuted by Ali Summers, Assistant United States Attorney. ‘Everyone is fed up with people who illegally possess firearms,’ said Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

‘I am gratified that the Court sends a very clear message – Do not illegally possess weapons on our streets,’ Wigginton added.

Springer was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment, a $375 fine, and to serve a term of 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Springer has been in custody since his arrest.

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