Abdul Porter, 28, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. United States District Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg handed down the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release.
Porter was indicted on the gun possession charge in June 2024 and pleaded guilty earlier this year.
According to information presented in court, on May 2, 2023, Philadelphia Police Department officers were patrolling the 39th District when they noticed a black Hyundai Sonata with South Carolina plates traveling westbound on West Cambria Street. After running a database check, officers learned that the car had been reported stolen during a carjacking days earlier.
The officers followed the vehicle as it pulled over and parked. The driver, later identified as Porter, exited and crossed the street before attempting to flee on foot. He was apprehended shortly after.
A police officer returned to the stolen Hyundai and saw a black handgun on the floor in front of the driver’s seat. DNA analysis by the Philadelphia Police Department laboratory confirmed Porter’s DNA was present on the Ruger 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
Porter is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the Philadelphia Police Department and FBI Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Zaleski prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney David Metcalf stated: “The defendant was charged by indictment with that offense in June 2024 and pleaded guilty in April of this year.”
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