Federal firearm offenses are very serious. An individual convicted of federal firearms offenses can face prison time, long probationary periods and much more. A person prohibited to possess a firearm can face either federal or state charges. Under federal statute a felon in possession of a firearm can face up to 10 years in prison. If an offender has three or more prior convictions they can face a minimum of 15 years in prison, without the opportunity for parole.
Federal authorities are accusing a California Highway Patrol dispatcher and her husband of multiple federal criminal charges, including the sale and possession of illegal drugs, the sale and possession of a prohibited weapon and bribery charges. The dispatcher and her husband, a member of the Vallejo chapter of the Hell’s Angels, were arrested following a long federal investigation. The man is a convicted felon with a history of federal charges, including a prior federal weapons offense.
Authorities believe that the woman had been using her position with the California Highway Patrol to assist her biker husband with his criminal activity. The woman is accused of the possession of methamphetamine for sale and bribery. Authorities have charged the woman’s husband with multiple federal criminal charges, including being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, sale of an assault weapon, the transportation of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a controlled substance offense.
While the penalties for being a felon in possession of a firearm are bad enough, accusations of possessing a firearm during the commission of a drug felony or federal crime of violence is even worse. The penalty for individuals convicted of being in possession of a weapon during the commission of drug crime ranges from a minimum of 5 years in prison to life without parole. If the firearm is actually used and death is the result from the use of the firearm, the individual can face the death penalty.
Source: LA Times, “CHP dispatcher, Hells Angels husband face drug, weapons charges,” Jason Wells, Dec. 19, 2013