Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Ammunition

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to the statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to court documents, Wesley Paul Hadsell, 40, pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2015. According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Hadsell admitted that on Dec. 23, 2013, he purchased ammunition at Bob’s Gun Shop in Norfolk and that on Dec. 31, 2013, he took that ammunition to a gun range in Chesapeake, where he and other individuals used some of the ammunition. Hadsell retained possession of approximately 80 rounds of ammunition after the trip to the range. Hadsell has at least 10 prior convictions for crimes ranging from burglary and bank robbery to felonious restraint.

Hadsell was initially sentenced to 20 years in prison in November 2016, pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act, which increased the statutory maximum for the crime. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals returned the case for resentencing after holding that one of Hadsell’s prior burglary convictions did not count as an Armed Career Criminal predicate offense, which reset the statutory maximum penalty to 10 years.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Bosse prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15-cr-116.