Anchorage, Alaska-United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Anchorage man was sentenced in federal court to 37 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms.
Patrick Leu Tauanuu, 38, of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced to the prison term by Chief United States District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline for possessing two short barrel shotguns after having been convicted of a felony offense. Upon being released from prison, Tauanuu will be on supervised release for three years.
In sentencing Tauanuu, Judge Beistline commented on the seriousness of Tauanuu’s crime, noting that Tauanuu’s actions and those like it endanger the whole community.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie C. Courter, who prosecuted the case, Tauanuu previously pled guilty to illegally possessing two short barrel firearms. Specifically, Tauanuu admitted possessing a 12 gauge shotgun and a.410 gauge shotgun, both of which had barrels of less than 18 inches. Tauanuu also admitted that he had positioned one of the shotguns for protection. Tauanuu’s possession of the firearms was prohibited due to his prior felony conviction for assault in the third degree.
Ms. Loeffler commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Anchorage Police Department for their investigation of this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
