Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Rockford Man Arrested For Illegally Possessing A Firearm
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was arrested today for illegally possessing a firearm. CLIFFORD HORTON, 27, of Rockford, Ill., was charged yesterday by a federal grand jury in Rockford for possessing a .380 caliber pistol as a convicted felon. Horton is scheduled to be arraigned today at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston in federal court in Rockford.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The arrest was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffery Magee, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Sheriff; and, Chet Epperson, Rockford Police Chief.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Paccagnini.