Defendant led police on high-speed chase before crashing into patrol vehicle.
OAKLAND - Mekivil Julius Franklin was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Rayfield Roundtree. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Judge.
Franklin, 49, of Oakland, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 11, 2019. According to papers filed by the government, Franklin was driving in Oakland in the early morning hours on Aug. 2, 2018, when police attempted to stop him. Rather than yielding to the police, Franklin drove away. Franklin led police on a lengthy chase, at times reaching speeds of 90 or 100 MPH on the I-880 freeway. The pursuit ended when Franklin crashed into a police vehicle in the intersection of 9th Avenue and East 12th Street in Oakland. Two Oakland Police Department officers sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash. Franklin seriously injured himself as well. Police found that Franklin was in possession of a loaded Ruger pistol. According to his plea agreement, Franklin acknowledged he had been previously convicted of felonies, and therefore he was not eligible to possess a firearm or ammunition.
A federal grand jury indicted Franklin on Sept. 18, 2018, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Franklin pleaded guilty to the charge.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. The defendant is in custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Kopczynski is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Helen Yee and Adrienne DelaPena. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ATF and the Oakland Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
