LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A 46-year-old man from West Memphis has been convicted and will spend 195 months in federal prison, plus three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On January 20, 2022, the West Memphis Police Department received a tip from a confidential source that a man was trying to sell them an AR-style rifle from his motel room for approximately $300.
Detectives observed Cornelius Corwine Sandlin exiting a hotel room with an object thought to be a firearm hidden inside his jacket.
Once he left the scene in his vehicle, officials conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in Sandlin’s driveway. He attempted to flee on foot and avoid law enforcement.
A search of his vehicle revealed the Hämmerli, model Tac R1 22c .22 caliber, rifle in the front passenger seat, loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition.
Officials also found a casino player's card ID and a pill bottle with Sandlin’s name on them.
After further investigation, Sandlin was found and taken into custody on February 24, 2022. At the time of his arrest, he had methamphetamine, cocaine, plastic baggies, a scale, ammunition, and a CB radio on his person.
Sandlin is classified as an armed career criminal offender due to his violent criminal history which includes: robbery, theft of property, aggravated robbery, and possession of cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy with the purpose to deliver.
Due to this, the maximum penalty he faced was not less than 15 years and not more than life in prison, no more than five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Cornelius Corwine Sandlin pleaded guilty to the crime on February 9, 2024.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the West Memphis Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reese Lancaster.
