Brian E. Hunter, a 33-year-old man from Cincinnati, Ohio, was sentenced on Mar. 9 to 48 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to an announcement by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address illegal firearm possession by individuals with prior felony convictions. Hunter's sentencing follows his arrest after a traffic stop in May 2025, where police found marijuana remnants and a stolen, loaded pistol in his vehicle.
Court records show that during the traffic stop, Hunter had a large amount of cash in his pocket that was not seized. He was aware at the time that he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions. In 2013, Hunter was convicted of Having Weapons Under Disability after allegedly being involved in a shootout at the A to Z market in Cincinnati. He also has convictions from 2014 for Felonious Assault and Trafficking in Cocaine.
Under federal law, Hunter is required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. After completing his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Les Hill of Boone County jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Boone County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King prosecuted the case.
