Baltimore Recidivist Sentenced for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition by Convicted Felon in School Zone

Baltimore, Maryland - Chief Judge George L. Russell, III, sentenced Gary Hall, 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, to nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, along with possession of a firearm in a school zone in Baltimore City.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

On March 5, 2024, BPD received a report about an armed individual in a convenience store. Authorities later identified the individual as Gary Hall, a previously convicted felon. Upon arrival at the convenience store, the responding officer located Hall walking in the direction of Pimlico Elementary School as students were leaving school for the day. The responding officer pursued Hall and identified the handle of a firearm inside of Hall's inner jacket pocket.

The officer then attempted to stop Hall, but he resisted and engaged in a physical struggle. During the struggle, the officer recovered the loaded firearm from Hall's inner jacket pocket, but Hall evaded capture. At the time of its recovery, the firearm was equipped with an extended magazine loaded with 19 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Then on March 6, officers responded to a report of a burglary at a residence located a few blocks away from the convenience store. There, responding officers located and arrested Hall in the basement of the residence.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Tsuei and James Hammond who are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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