Jury convicts prior felon for unlawful possession of a firearm

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Following a two-day trial, a jury found a prior felon guilty of federal charges for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

On May 6, 2026, a federal jury convicted Anthony D. Bradley, Jr., 37, of one count for possession of a firearm by a felon. Indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024, Bradley was observed by officers to possess a firearm on October 28, 2024, during a proactive crime suppression detail that included the John De Shields housing complex in East St. Louis, Illinois.

According to court documents, Bradley was previously convicted of state charges for second degree murder and multiple state and federal charges involving illegal firearm possession. Bradley stipulated prior to trial that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct.

"Convicted felons, like Anthony Bradley, who unlawfully possess firearms contribute to the plague of gun violence threatening our local communities," said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. "The jury's verdict holds Bradley accountable for his wrongful possession and supports our office's commitment to ensure the safety of southern Illinois. I commend the effort of ISP's Public Safety Enforcement Group for their continued efforts in bringing these offenders to justice."

The evidence presented at trial proved Bradley unlawfully possessed a firearm in East St. Louis. Following trial, Bradley entered a stipulation and consent to forfeit the firearm to the United States. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours and twenty minutes.

"This guilty verdict holds a felon who repeatedly broke the law accountable and is a big win for the Metro East community," said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. "Officers in our Public Safety Enforcement Group and Statewide Antiviolence Enforcement unit are committed to making communities safer and ISP will continue to dedicate resources to get criminals out of our neighborhoods."

Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM in the East St. Louis Courthouse. The Illinois State Police led this investigation with assistance from its Public Safety Enforcement Group and Firearms Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Arshi and Ali Burns prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.