Judge sentences Blytheville man for possession of firearm

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A Blytheville, Arkansas, man was sentenced to over three years in prison after a traffic stop in Steele led to his arrest in 2019.

On Wednesday, United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. sentenced Timothy Sweet, 36, to 37 months in prison. Sweet pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On Nov. 14, 2019, an officer with the Steele, Missouri Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Sweet for failing to stop at a stop sign. As the officer was traveling behind the vehicle, the officer observed Sweet making movements that led the officer to believe he was attempting to conceal something underneath his seat.

The officer looked underneath the driver seat of the vehicle and observed a firearm that was further identified as an Arminius, Model HW, .38 caliber revolver.

Sweet has a prior conviction for the felony offense of distribution of a controlled substance in the Circuit Court of Dunklin County, Missouri, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Steele Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution.