A man from Norcross, Georgia, has pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Michael Allen Barnes, 42, entered his plea before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. He faced a one-count indictment for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
According to information presented in court, Barnes was arrested on April 11, 2024, in downtown Pittsburgh on an outstanding warrant from Georgia. Law enforcement officers found a loaded pistol with approximately nine rounds of ammunition in the waistband of his pants at the time of arrest. Barnes had previously been convicted of burglary in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Federal law bars individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Judge Stickman set sentencing for March 30, 2026. Barnes could face up to 15 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. The actual sentence will depend on the seriousness of the offense and Barnes’ prior criminal history under federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting the case for the government.
The investigation leading to Barnes’ prosecution was conducted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit and the United States Marshals Service.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates efforts among various levels of law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence nationwide. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust within communities, supporting local organizations aimed at preventing violence, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
