Kenai Peninsula Woman Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Felon in Possession of Firearm Charge

ANCHORAGE—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that on November 17, 2011, a Kenai Peninsula woman was indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage, charging her with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

The one-count indictment names Mary Ann Morgan, 64, as the sole defendant.

The indictment alleges that Morgan was convicted in 2001 in Homer, Alaska, of the state felony offense of custodial interference in the first degree—removal of child from state. The indictment further alleges that on October 27, 2011, Morgan, who as a convicted felon was prohibited from possessing a firearm, was found in possession of a handgun.

During a preliminary hearing held last week in Fairbanks, evidence was introduced showing that Morgan was found in possession of the firearm as she attempted to enter Canada from Alaska in a vehicle. She was denied entry into Canada and turned over by Canadian authorities to the Alaska State Troopers, who arrested her for a state offense. A criminal complaint was thereafter filed in federal court in Fairbanks charging Morgan with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Skrocki and Joseph Bottini, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the weapons charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Morgan remains in custody pending trial. An arraignment date has not yet been set.

The FBI and the Alaska State Troopers coordinated to conduct the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.