James L. Kelley, Sr., was sentenced to 18 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Richard G. Callahan announced today.
Kelley, 52, Salem, MO, pleaded guilty in November 2009 to one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Due to his previous criminal history, he is forbidden by law to own or possess firearms. He appeared Tuesday for sentencing before United States District Judge Carol E. Jackson.
The case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which seeks to prevent violent crime through enforcement of federal firearms laws, such as the law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms.
Callahan commended the work on the case by the Salem Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Assistant United States Attorney Cristian M. Stevens, who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
