DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of Illinois

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 9, 2018
John R. Lausch, Jr.
, United States Attorney

Rockford Man Sentenced to more than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

ROCKFORD — A Rockford, Ill., man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.  ALBERT DOWTHARD, 37, was sentenced to 186 months in federal prison, in addition to 4 years of supervised release following his imprisonment, for illegally possessing a .38 revolver on Nov. 14, 2016.  Dowthard pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 12, 2017, and also admitted to possessing .38 caliber ammunition at the time.  In imposing the sentence, Judge Reinhard found that Dowthard was an “armed career criminal” under a federal firearm law mandating non-paroleable prison sentences of 15 years or more for felons with extensive records of prior convictions who illegally possess or sell guns, which resulted in Dowthard receiving a higher sentence. 

The sentencing was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Celinez Nunez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Dan O’Shea, Rockford Police Chief.

The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Paccagnini.

Chicago Field Division