WEST MEMPHIS, Arkansas (KAIT/Edited Press Release) – Cornelius Corwine Sandlin, a multiple convicted felon from West Memphis, will serve a 195-month sentence in federal prison for criminal possession of a firearm.
Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was entered on Wednesday, August 14, by U.S. District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
On February 9, 46-year-old Sandlin pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm.
Judge Moody also sentenced Sandlin to three years probation.
Sandlin was charged with criminal possession of a firearm in February 2022.
An investigation by the West Memphis Police Department revealed that on January 20, 2022, investigators with the WMPD Violent Crimes Unit received a tip from a confidential source that Sandlin was attempting to sell the confidential source an AR-style rifle for approximately $300 from his motel room.
Detectives conducted a surveillance operation and observed Sandlin leaving a hotel room and getting into his vehicle with an object in his hand that was believed to be a firearm.
Marked WMPD patrol cars stopped the vehicle in Sandlin’s driveway.
Sandlin fled on foot and was able to evade police officers at the time.
While searching the Sandlins’ vehicle, the detectives discovered the Hämmerli rifle, model Tac R1 22c caliber .22, lying on the passenger seat.
The rifle was loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition.
Detectives also found a casino player ID and a pill bottle with Sandlin’s name on it.
Through further investigation, Sandlin was located and taken into custody on February 24, 2022.
At the time of his arrest, Sandlin was in possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, plastic bags, a scale, ammunition and a CB radio.
Sandlin is classified as an armed career offender due to his violent criminal history which includes: robbery, theft of property, aggravated robbery, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana with the purpose of trafficking, possession of ecstasy with the purpose of trafficking, and possession of cocaine with the purpose of trafficking.
Therefore, Sandlin faced a maximum sentence of not less than 15 years nor more than life imprisonment, not more than five years probation, and a fine of $250,000.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the West Memphis Police Department and the.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reese Lancaster.
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