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9-time felon sentenced to prison for possessing a firearm

Posted at 4:24 PM, Oct 04, 2018
and last updated 2019-01-29 11:31:17-05

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Earlon Delton Mitchell, 29, was arrested by Norfolk Police March 29 for trespassing and having outstanding arrest warrants. Mitchell, who is a self-admitted general of the Nine Trey Blood Set, resisted and attempted to flee.

After a two-minute struggle, the officers detained Mitchell and found a loaded semi-automatic handgun tucked into his pant leg. Mitchell was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2007 conviction for which he was sentenced to 11 years in prison on nine gang-related felony charges, including malicious wounding by mob, using and discharging a firearm while committing a felony, gang participation and robbery.

Mitchell could have faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on January 10. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s effort to reduce violent crime. PSN is an evidence-based program known to be effective at reducing violent crime.

PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.