DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Eastern District of California

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Benjamin B. Wagner
, United States Attorney
Contact: Lauren Horwood

Fresno Man Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison For Being A Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

FRESNO, Calif. — Albert Hood, 49, of Fresno, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to eight years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Hood was found guilty by a jury on October 17, 2013. At trial, the government introduced evidence that on December 4, 2011, a Fresno police officer stopped Hood after seeing him commit a traffic violation. Hood ran from the officer, and the officer saw and heard the defendant drop an object that turned out to be a loaded Ruger, Model Vaquero, .44-caliber revolver. According to court documents, Hood has felony convictions for vehicle theft, felony domestic violence, and assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.

“Every time we seize a single firearm from a convicted felon, we prevent impending violent acts from occurring in our neighborhoods,” stated Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Riehl. “ATF and our partners will not surrender to those criminals who are a threat to our communities and  possess a firearm unlawfully.”

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer stated: “This is yet another example of the strong partnership between the Fresno Police Department and the US Attorney's Office toward prosecuting armed felons and removing firearms from the streets of Fresno.”

This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative bringing together local and federal law enforcement agencies to combat gun violence. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez prosecuted the case.

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San Francisco Field Division