Albany Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Alexander Wilson, age 30, of Albany, pled guilty today to illegally possessing a pistol as a convicted felon. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; United States Marshal David L. McNulty; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento. 

Wilson, who has two prior felony convictions, admitted that on March 16, 2023, he threw a loaded pistol from a vehicle while being pursued by a New York State Trooper on Interstate 90 in Albany. 

Wilson faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on April 30, 2024.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The United States Marshals Service, ATF and NYSP investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.