Violent Felon Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Loaded Firearm

Pawtucket Man Previously Convicted of Three Violent Felonies including Robberies and Domestic Assault

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Pawtucket man previously convicted three times for violent crimes was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi to eight years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, it was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha. Michael Blow, 38, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented to the court by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland, Blow was arrested in May 2010 by the Providence Police Violent Crime Task Force after he was found to be in possession of a loaded .50 caliber handgun.

According to information presented to the court, members of the Providence Police Violent Crime Task Force developed information that Blow would be traveling in a taxi and would be in possession of a firearm. As a police surveillance team converged on the taxi, Blow exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

During a brief pursuit, Blow tossed a bag to the ground. He was quickly captured and arrested. From inside the bag police recovered a loaded .50 caliber handgun and a box of ammunition. The firearm had been reported stolen in Taunton, Mass., five years earlier.

Blow has been detained since his arrest. Prior to his arrest in May 2010, Blow had been convicted of two robberies in the state of New York and a felony domestic assault in Rhode Island.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation.