CAPE GIRARDEAU – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Mark A. Brand, age 33, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was sentenced to serve 108 months (nine years) in federal prison for the offense of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Brand appeared for his sentencing hearing before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
At a guilty plea hearing last year, Brand admitted that he attempted to flee from law enforcement officers in the City of Cape Girardeau during a criminal investigation in October 2019.
A high-speed pursuit ensued. Brand eventually lost control of his car and crashed, at which point he tried to run away on foot. He was apprehended after a short foot chase. A backpack was found lying on the ground near Brand’s car, which contained a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver.
Brand is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law because of his status as a convicted felon, including a 2009 federal drug-trafficking conviction.
After serving the 108-month sentence, Brand will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years.
This case was investigated by the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.