Brian E. Hunter, a 33-year-old resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, was sentenced on Mar. 9 to 48 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to an announcement by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address illegal firearm possession by individuals with prior felony convictions. Such cases are prosecuted under federal law due to the increased risks associated with repeat offenders having access to firearms.
Court records show that on May 26, 2025, Hunter was stopped by law enforcement for traffic violations. During the search of his vehicle, officers found remnants of marijuana and a stolen, loaded pistol on the driver’s side floorboard. Hunter also had a large amount of cash in his pocket that was not seized at the time. Authorities said Hunter knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his previous felony convictions.
Hunter’s criminal history includes a 2013 conviction for Having Weapons Under Disability after allegedly being involved in a shootout at the A to Z market in Cincinnati. He was also convicted in 2014 for Felonious Assault and Trafficking in Cocaine.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Hunter is required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. After completing his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Les Hill of Boone County jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case.
