TYLER, Texas – A 49-year-old Irving resident has been sentenced to fifty-seven months in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Gary Wayne Blanton (Blanton) pleaded guilty on April 26, 2016 to a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was sentenced today to 57 months imprisonment during an appearance before U.S. Circuit Judge Catharina Haynes.
According to the evidence presented at the plea hearing, on November 12, 2015, at approximately 3:00 a.m., a Gun Barrel City police officer observed Blanton driving a vehicle with no tail lights.
After police stopped the vehicle and identified Blanton, the officer determined that Blanton had an outstanding arrest warrant. When the officer asked Blanton to get out of the car, Blanton sped away, evading detention. The officer pursued Blanton in his patrol car at speeds exceeding 100 m.p.h. After a few minutes, Blanton pulled over and surrendered to the police. An inventory of Blanton’s vehicle led to the discovery of a stolen 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol, a loaded Glock magazine, a bullet, and a digital scale in the trunk.
Officers also recovered loose methamphetamine from the front passenger seat of Blanton’s car. An additional small baggie of methamphetamine was discovered on the side of the road where Blanton was initially stopped. When Blanton was being booked into jail, officers discovered two 9 mm. cartridges in Blanton’s right front pants’ pocket.
At the time of his arrest, Blanton had previous convictions for the following felony offenses: Theft of a Firearm, Burglary of a Vehicle – Habitual, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and two convictions for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance - Amphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Gun Barrel City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Tyler Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
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