Repeat Gun Offender Sentenced to 10 Years of Incarceration for Illegal Handgun Possession

Baltimore, Md. (July 28, 2023) - Today, State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates announced that Shawn Sneed was found guilty of Possession of a Regulated Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Transport of a Loaded Handgun in a Vehicle, and Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. Sneed was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson model 669 semi-automatic handgun loaded with six cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber, in March of 2023. He is prohibited from owning a firearm due to a 2015 second-degree assault case in Anne Arundel County and a 2022 illegal possession of a firearm case in Montgomery County. He was sentenced to 10 years, with the first five years ineligible for parole. Assistant State's Attorney Michael Fiorenza prosecuted this incredibly challenging case. 

“Guns in the hands of prohibited persons is a chronic problem in the City of Baltimore that fosters violence on our streets," said State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “My Gun Violence Enforcement Division is committed to addressing this issue through skillful and persistent prosecution, despite any challenges they may face during litigation. I thank them for ensuring Mr. Sneed is held accountable for his reckless actions." 

###