DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Middle District of Florida

For Immediate Release

Friday, March 28, 2014
A. Lee Bentley, III
, United States Attorney
Contact: William Daniels

Orlando Felon Sentenced to More than 16 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II sentenced Brian K. Hatten (34, Orlando) today to 16 years and 4 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. A federal jury found Hatten guilty on January 7, 2014.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, officers from the Orlando Police Department arrested Hatten after he ran from them upon seeing a patrol car at an intersection west of downtown Orlando. During his flight from officers, Hatten became entangled on a fence. During a subsequent search, officers found packages of marijuana in Hatten’s pockets.  A semi-automatic pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition, a cell phone, and a receipt belonging to Hatten were located on the pavement near where he became entangled on the fence. Further investigation revealed that Hatten had at least seven previous felony convictions, including various drug offenses, robbery, battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault with a firearm and fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs Jr.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program—a nationwide gun violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state and local law enforcement officials.

The case is also part of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in communities where law enforcement efforts are focused.

 

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Tampa Field Division