Rock Island, Ill. – Rodger A. Heaton, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, announced that a federal grand jury today charged Leon Lee Lindsey, Jr., 26, of Moline, Illinois, with possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony. According to the indictment, Lindsey has prior felony convictions in Illinois for possession of a controlled substance, aggravated battery and aiding and abetting the possession of a stolen vehicle. The indictment alleges that on or about April 25, 2009, in Rock Island, Lindsey possessed a Hi-Point C9 9mm pistol.

The charge is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rock Island Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John K. Mehochko is prosecuting the case under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood program with the cooperation of the Rock Island County State’s Attorney’s Office. If convicted, possession of a firearm by a felon carries a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.