A five-time felon caught with a gun has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
William Gerard Brown, 36, had been out of jail less than three months in 2017 when he caught with a gun and marijuana at an Atlanta park, according to U.S. Attorney BJay Pak and booking records.
“Repeat offenders in possession of firearms pose grave risks to our community,” Pak said in a news release. “Brown has repeatedly ignored the law and will now have to face the consequences of his actions.”
Brown had already been convicted of felonies five times when he was spotted at a park holding what appeared to be a marijuana joint on April 28, 2017, according to investigators. Atlanta officers were speaking with Brown when he ran away.
Before running into nearby woods, Brown pulled a gun from his waistband and threw, according to investigators. He was quickly taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, Brown had approximately 25 grams of marijuana. Officers also located the gun he threw, Pak’s office said.
On March 29, a jury convicted Brown of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. After serving his 15-year sentence, Brown will spend five years of supervised release.
Brown’s prior convictions include various drug charges, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. He has served in state prisons three times since 2002, records showed. Brown has been booked into the Fulton County jail 12 times since 2002, booking records showed.
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