Gulfport, Miss. – Horace M. Rutledge, Jr., 44, of New York City, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to the maximum 120 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Beginning in August 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration, utilizing a confidential informant, scheduled a reverse sting drug sale with Rutledge. Rutledge traveled to Gulfport in order to provide partial payment money while co-defendant Damien Pinckney wired funds to Gulfport at the same time.

On September 23, 2017, Rutledge and Pinckney traveled along with two others in two cars from South Carolina to Gulfport to complete the purchase with more cash and three firearms – a 50 caliber gun along with two rifles. Rutledge was arrested and the cash and firearms seized.

The ATF continued the investigation into Pinckney. Through phone records, witness statements in South Carolina, money transfer records and the car rented by Pinckney, ATF obtained charges against Pinckney, who was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison. Rutledge has prior felony assault, resisting arrest, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal sale of a firearm, all in New York and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.

SOURCE- THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ)

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