Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Acting United States Attorney Steve Butler of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Robert Richey Golden, 63, of Chunchula, was sentenced today in federal court on charges involving his possession of two short-barrel firearms.  Golden, a former Prichard police officer was implicated in state charges involving allegations of assault 2nd, animal cruelty, and intimidation of a witness during August of 2016.  He was taken into state custody at that time, and a search warrant was executed on his residence by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.  The two short-barrel firearms were discovered in the search, and the matter was referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for further investigation. 

Golden was indicted in federal court in September of 2016 on two counts of illegal possession of the unregistered firearms, one for each of the short-barrel firearms.  He pled guilty to the charges in December of 2016.  United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed a sentence of 6 months this afternoon after a lengthy sentencing hearing.  She ordered that Golden will serve a three-year term of supervision following his release from imprisonment.  She further ordered that he pay $200 in special mandatory assessments but did not impose a fine. 

The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.