DRUGS AND A SHORT-BARREL SHOTGUN
LAND A NASHVILLE MAN IN PRISON

Nashville, TN - Nashville, TN - James K. Vines, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, James M. Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Nashville Field Division, and Deborah Faulkner, Acting Police Chief for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, announce that Palmer Sheridan HILLIS, age 21, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced today in Federal District Court by United States District Court Judge Todd J. Campbell. Judge Campbell sentenced HILLIS to 120 months imprisonment for possessing a short-barrel shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The sentencing was a result of HILLIS'S February 3, 2003 guilty plea to an April 24, 2002 Federal indictment that charged him with possessing a short-barrel shotgun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

This investigation began on July 28, 2001 when Nashville Metropolitan Police Officer Ryan Lockwood attempted to serve a probation violation warrant on John Brandon SHIVELY, HILLIS'S apartment-mate, near HILLIS'S and SHIVELY'S apartment. SHIVELY ran from Officer Lockwood and to his (SHIVELY'S) apartment. HILLIS opened the apartment door for SHIVELY in an effort to assist SHIVELY elude Officer Lockwood. Officer Lockwood was able to arrest SHIVELY inside the apartment; however, HILLIS fled the scene. During a search of the suspect's apartment, investigators recovered a short-barrel shotgun, two handguns, and approximately 2.5 pounds of marijuana. HILLIS was interviewed at a later date and admitted he owned the -2-shotgun.In addition to sentencing HILLIS to 120 months incarceration, Judge Campbell ordered that HILLIS be placed on supervised release for a term of two years following his (HILLIS'S) release from prison.

Although HILLIS had no prior felony convictions, the 10-year sentence is mandatory under Federal law when a short-barrel shotgun is possessed and/or used in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Since there is no parole in the Federal corrections system, HILLIS will serve a minimum of 85% of his sentence.

SHIVELY has pled guilty and will be sentenced on July 14, 2003.

This investigation was conducted by the ATF/Metropolitan Police Crime Gun Unit and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney T.J. Haycox.

Under a gun violence reduction program known as HEAT (Help Eliminate Armed Thugs), the United States Attorney's Office in Nashville, ATF, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, as well as other state, city, and county law enforcement authorities have partnered to conduct aggressive investigations and prosecutions involving persons who illegally possess firearms and/or use them to commit other crimes.