FIREARM VIOLATION GETS BIRMINGHAM MAN 62 MONTHS

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and James M. Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Nashville Field Division, announce that Harold B. BROWNLEE, JR., age 29, of Birmingham, was sentenced on July 11,2003 for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

BROWNLEE was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Robert B. Propst to sixty-two (62) months incarceration, fined $1,000, and ordered to serve a term of three (3) years supervised release after completing his (BROWNLEE'S) custodial sentence.

This investigation began on October 1, 2001 after BROWNLEE'S arrest by officers from the Birmingham Police Department (BPD). According to court records, officers from BPD witnessed BROWNLEE fail to stop at a stop sign. The officers attempted to stop BROWNLEE; however, he refused to yield and a pursuit of BROWNLEE was initiated. The vehicle pursuit ended after BROWNLEE crashed his car. BROWNLEE fled on foot, but he was eventually apprehended. During the crash scene investigation, officers found a pistol on the floorboard of BROWNLEE'S vehicle.

BROWNLEE was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C., Section 922 (g)(1), (felon in possession of a firearm) on March 18, 2003.

This case was investigated by ATF Special Agents and officers from the Birmingham Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank M. Salter.

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