Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm

Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court, stemming from a firearms incident in a convenience store. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Tevin Williams, 33, of Halethorpe, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. Williams, a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, attempted to conceal a backpack containing the firearm in a convenience store. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to court documents, on July 28, 2025, a BPD officer performed a business check at a convenience store located in Baltimore. While inside, the officer observed an individual in the back corner of the store standing next to a backpack stuffed between an ice-cream cooler and the wall. The officer asked the individual if the backpack belonged to him and the individual responded, “no.” Then the officer picked up the backpack and immediately recognized the shape and weight of a firearm inside. The officer opened the black backpack and recovered a pistol, equipped with a large-capacity magazine loaded with 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Law enforcement later reviewed the convenience store surveillance footage from that day and confirmed that the individual standing near the backpack did not manipulate or possess the backpack prior to its recovery. Instead, further review of surveillance footage revealed that Williams entered the convenience store after an unidentified individual approached him and they walked to the back of the store to the location of the backpack. He reached into the narrow space between the ice-cream cooler and the wall and pulled out the backpack. Williams eventually opened the backpack and handed items to the unidentified individual. THhen Williams closed the backpack and placed it back between the ice cream cooler and the wall. He later admitted that he possessed the recovered firearm and ammunition equipped with a large-capacity magazine. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Tsuei who prosecuted this federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #