Stockton Man Sentenced to Over 7 Years on Federal Firearm Charge

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Barry Rhodes, 28, of Stockton, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to over 7 years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, on March 9, 2013, in the city of Stockton, an officer pulled over Rhodes’s 1999 Buick Regal for an expired vehicle registration. Rhodes was unable to provide his driver’s license. The officer discovered that Rhodes had a suspended license, two outstanding arrest warrants, and was on active searchable probation. A search of the vehicle uncovered a 9 mm Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun and a 15-round magazine with 12 live rounds of ammunition inside. Rhodes has five felony convictions since 2004.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Stockton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Olusere Olowoyeye prosecuted the case.

“Today’s sentencing demonstrates our continued effort to apprehend violent offenders and to keep our citizens and our streets safe,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Special Agent in Charge, Joseph M. Riehl. “Our expertise in firearms investigations is a valuable asset we bring to the program as we continue our fight against violent crime with our partners.”

This case is the product of “Operation Gideon IV,” an ATF initiative targeting violent criminals and criminal organizations operating in Stockton. Experienced undercover ATF special agents from throughout the U.S. were deployed with local ATF agents and Stockton police officers to conduct covert investigations into violent criminals in Stockton and surrounding areas. As a result of this partnership, 52 defendants were charged federally, and 19 others were charged in state prosecutions. The operation also resulted in the collective seizure of 84 firearms, 36 pounds of methamphetamine, and 21 pounds of marijuana.