Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Baltimore Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Stolen Firearm
Brown Took Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Transaction
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Andre Christopher Brown, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a stolen firearm.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on March 27, 2019, Brown was found asleep in a vehicle in Reisterstown Road, Maryland parking lot. A concerned citizen called 911 to check on Brown’s wellness as he appeared to be unresponsive.
When officers arrived at Brown’s vehicle and awoke him to check on his condition, he appeared to be intoxicated due to his slurred speech. Once officers asked for Brown’s drivers license, Brown responded normally until he told the officers that his driver’s license was “upstairs” and not in his possession. Officers then asked Brown to step out of the vehicle to test his mobility.
As Brown exited the vehicle, an officer noticed a 9mm caliber pistol in Brown’s waistband. Upon further inspection of the firearm, officers discovered the pistol was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition.
As stated in the plea agreement, ballistics evidence linked Brown’s firearm to a previous Owings Mills, Maryland discharging in September 2017. Law enforcement were unable to identify a victim or suspect from the discharging.
On April 10, 2019, Baltimore County Police Department detectives interviewed Brown where he waived his Miranda rights, and admitted to discharging the firearm on September 17, 2017. Brown stated that he took the firearm from another person during a drug transaction and shot the firearm at the ground and in the air because he was afraid the other person was going to harm him. Brown admitted to keeping the firearm ever since.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the ATF, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore City Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon K. Moore, who prosecuted the case.