Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Gun Crime

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz.

U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Herman Dewayne Steen, 35, to 60 months in prison. In November 2024, Steen pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the plea agreement, Steen illegally possessed a firearm on two separate occasions. First, on December 14, 2022, Steen possessed a firearm at a bus station in Birmingham.  A Birmingham Police officer responded to a call regarding Steen.  This was the third time that day that the officer had responded to the same address regarding Steen. When the officer arrived, she was approached by a security guard who stated that Steen had a firearm. The officer took a loaded Glock 9mm pistol from Steen.  

Second, on March 12, 2023, Steen went to the Jefferson County Jail to make a report that he had been assaulted in the Center Point area. While making the report, Steen complained of being dizzy and his head hurting. Birmingham Fire and Rescue responded; and during a pre-transport search, a sheriff’s deputy found a loaded Taurus .380 caliber pistol in Steen’s pocket.

The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.