A Rockford resident, Timothy Gentry, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentencing took place on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Rockford, with Judge Iain D. Johnston presiding.
According to court documents, Gentry, age 47, admitted that on July 6, 2023, he sold a loaded handgun to another individual in Rockford. The buyer was cooperating with law enforcement at the time of the transaction. Gentry has prior convictions for multiple violent felonies in state courts and is classified as an Armed Career Criminal under federal law.
The announcement of the sentence came from Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim represented the government during proceedings.
"Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses," stated officials.
