Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Klamath Falls Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
MEDFORD, Ore. - Russell Ray Moore, 63, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, was sentenced on Monday, October 19, 2015, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ann Aiken to 15 years in federal prison after he pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Moore will also be on three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.
The case resulted from three separate incidents in which Moore illegally possessed firearms. On September 3, 2014, Moore was arrested by the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office after a high-speed chase with police in which his vehicle was disabled by a spike strip. Moore possessed a Bersa .380 handgun, a taser, digital scales, and methamphetamine. On September 16, 2014, the Oregon State Police executed a search warrant at Moore’s house after receiving information that he was selling methamphetamine and possessed a sawed-off shotgun. Police found a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun with the barrel sawed off to 15 inches, more than 700 rounds of ammunition, and methamphetamine. On February 25, 2015, police executed another search warrant at Moore’s house after receiving information that he possessed another firearm. In Moore’s bedroom, police found a loaded Hi-Point 9mm handgun, a box of 9mm ammunition, methamphetamine, digital scales, and drug packaging materials. Moore’s repeated association with these weapons, in combination with his serious criminal history, caused local investigators to refer the matter for federal prosecution.
Under federal law, any person who possesses a firearm or ammunition after being previously convicted of three violent felonies or drug trafficking crimes is an Armed Career Criminal subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. Moore is an Armed Career Criminal based upon eight prior felony convictions for delivery and manufacture of methamphetamine, and an additional conviction for attempted murder. Moore also has two prior convictions for felon in possession of a firearm in 1997 and 2012.
This case was investigated jointly by the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas W. Fong.
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