A Springfield, Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm.
Dionysus Azeria Hale, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, Feb. 24, to 10 years in federal prison without parole, which is the statutory maximum for this offense.
On Aug. 14, 2019, Hale pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Springfield police officers executed a search warrant at Hale’s residence on Feb. 20, 2019, as part of an investigation into the distribution of heroin and/or fentanyl. In Hale’s front right pocket were two zipper pouches that contained a total of $3,264. Officers found a loaded Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with an extended capacity magazine in the bedroom. Hale’s sentence reflects the court’s ruling that Hale used or possessed the firearm in connection with a drug-trafficking offense.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
In 2001, Hale was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in two separate cases and was given a suspended two-year sentence, but his probation was revoked due to incurring numerous violations.
In 2002, Hale was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance and had his parole revoked numerous times for various violations.
While on parole, Hale committed and was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and once again had his probation and parole revoked due to numerous violations.
While on supervision for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, Hale committed and was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hale was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison and released on Jan. 6, 2017. Upon being placed on supervised release, he incurred violations that led to a revocation of his supervised release and received a seven-month sentence and a new two-year term of supervised release. While on his new term of supervised release, he committed this offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
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