Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Harry Brown of New Castle was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for the illegal possession and use of firearms. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, in March 2020, Mr. Brown, 33, was on probation in the state of Delaware when his probation officer received information that Mr. Brown was engaged in drug dealing and concealing a firearm inside his residence.  A probation search of Mr. Brown’s residence yielded a firearm, distribution quantities of crack cocaine, and $7,500 in cash.  At the time of the search, Mr. Brown was a convicted felon and thus prohibited from possessing a firearm.  A few months later, in July 2020, U.S. Marshals executed a fugitive warrant for Mr. Brown in Chester, Pennsylvania.  Marshals located Mr. Brown in a hotel room and found him in possession of another firearm.

Mr. Brown was ultimately charged in the District of Delaware with one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Mr. Brown was also charged in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with possession of the firearm found in the hotel room.  Mr. Brown pleaded guilty to all three offenses before Chief Judge Connolly in the District of Delaware.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Those who illegally possess a firearm while dealing drugs contribute to the perpetuation of both violent crime and drug addiction – two significant scourges in our community.  Together with our law enforcement partners, our office will continue to work to keep our community safe.  And as this case demonstrates, the work we do here does not only benefit Delaware, but neighboring communities as well.”

The case was investigated by the Wilmington Department of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

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