A man from Midfield, Alabama, has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Billy Keith Hamilton, 42, received a sentence of 24 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. He was also given an additional consecutive sentence of 27 months after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In total, Hamilton will serve 51 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
According to court documents, on July 13, 2024, an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency state trooper stopped Hamilton during a traffic stop. The trooper told Hamilton he had an outstanding warrant and asked him to exit his vehicle. After initially complying, Hamilton fled with his minor children still inside the car. He led law enforcement on a chase through several cities before abandoning both his children and vehicle near his neighborhood and fleeing into nearby woods with a backpack.
Hamilton was apprehended after a short pursuit. Officers found a stolen Springfield XD .45 caliber pistol in his backpack.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Keown, Sr., prosecuted the case.
