Kenneth Finch Jr., 31, a.k.a. "Junior," appeared in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, nearly two years after his arrest on an illegal gun possession charge.
SPRINGFIELD -- A federal judge sentenced a city man to five years behind bars for selling a loaded pistol to an undercover trooper in a Friendly's parking lot in 2015.
Kenneth Finch Jr., 31, a.k.a. "Junior," appeared in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, nearly two years after his arrest on an illegal gun possession charge. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Wagner told District Judge Mark Mastroianni that Finch was previously convicted of the same crime in North Carolina and served a short jail term.
Wagner asked for Finch to be sentenced to 71 months in prison, arguing he is a chronic, unapologetic street criminal.
"This is someone who has been out on the streets, selling drugs for years," Wagner told Mastroianni, adding that Finch is a "master manipulator."
Defense attorney Thomas J. O'Connor said Finch has invested in prison programming and has worked toward rehabilitation since his arrest.
This story will be updated after further reporting.
