Federal Jury Convicts Sacramento Man of Felon-in-Possession Firearm Charge

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal jury convicted Anthony Carter, 23, of Sacramento on Tuesday of one count of being a felon in possession of firearms, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

The verdict covers Carter's possession of specific firearms while prohibited from doing so under federal law. The single-count conviction directly affects Carter, who now faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Federal sentencing guidelines will incorporate his prior felony record to set the actual term.

The case shifts Carter from defendant to convicted felon on the firearms charge. Sentencing will occur on a date set by U.S. District Court Judge in the Eastern District of California. The prior state left Carter awaiting trial after indictment; the new state establishes guilt on the federal offense.

Downstream, the Bureau of Prisons will receive Carter after sentencing to serve whatever term the judge imposes. The conviction also permanently bars Carter from future lawful firearm possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Probation officers must prepare a presentence investigation report that calculates his criminal-history category and offense level before the judge rules.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California will handle any potential appeal deadlines that begin running after formal judgment.

This marks the latest felony-in-possession conviction secured by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of California. The Department of Justice has pursued such cases under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), which prohibits anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison from possessing firearms or ammunition.

The statute has remained in force without change since its last major amendment.