Convicted Felon Sentenced to 34 Months in Prison on Gun Charge

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Jonathan Teal, 35, of Vestavia, to 34 months in prison. In April, Teal pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the plea agreement, on September 24, 2023, a Birmingham Police Department officer responded to a call of a man walking down the street and waving a gun as vehicles drove by him. The officer approached Teal, and while performing a pat down search for weapons, the officer recovered a Taurus 9mm pistol from Teal's waistband.

Teal is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions.

The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.