Feds say Alabama felon had 18 firearms ranging from .22-caliber pistols to high-powered rifles

Published 2:18 pm Friday, August 19, 2022

An Alabama felon has been arrested after investigators say they found him in possession of 18 firearms, which he’s prohibited from possessing due to his being a convicted felon.

The federal indictment was unsealed this week after a convicted felon was arrested on Monday, for illegal possession of 18 firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.

A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Thomas Eric Hollingsworth, 46, of New Hope, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, on July 27, 2021, Hollingsworth unlawfully possessed two Browning .22 caliber rifles, a Taurus 9mm pistol, a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun, three Remington 12-gauge shotguns, two Weatherby .30-06 caliber rifle, a Fabico .22 caliber revolver, a Heritage .22 caliber derringer, a Glock 19 9mm pistol, a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun, a Browning 12-gauge shotgun, a Burgo .22 caliber revolver, a Mossburg 12-gauge shotgun, a Taurus .45 caliber revolver, and a North American .22 caliber revolver. Hollingsworth is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.

The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison.

ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Pillsbury is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.