Indiana Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms as a Felon

Rock Island, Ill. – Gregory F. Young, 37, of South Bend, Ind., was sentenced today for possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Lewis, Central District of Illinois. U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow ordered Young to serve a term of 84 months in federal prison.

Young entered a plea of guilty on June 16, 2016, and admitted that on November 20, 2015, he and his girlfriend, while driving westbound on Interstate 80 in Henry County, Illinois, were pulled over by a trooper of the Illinois State Police for a traffic violation. Young, who was found to be the subject of an arrest warrant from Indiana for a parole violation, was arrested. A subsequent search of his car revealed a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, an SKS semi-automatic assault rifle with nine magazines and over 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and quantities of marijuana and heroin. Young previously had been convicted of felony offenses in courts in the state of Indiana. 

According to court documents, Young told police that he acquired the weapons for protection because there was “a hit out” on him related to a dispute over drug money.    

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Allegro.  The charges were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Illinois State Police.