Fayetteville man gets 15 years in gun case

A Fayetteville man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge's office said in a statement Thursday.

David Samson, 47, has also been sentenced to five years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, according to the attorney's office. U.S. District Court Judge Jimm Larry Hendren presided over the hearing.

Samson was arrested Sept. 25, 2012, during a traffic stop in Fayetteville, where officers found that he had a Marlin .22 caliber rifle and more than $800 in fake U.S. money, according to court records. He pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

His criminal history includes felony offenses for burglary, aggravated assault and unlawful use of a weapon, the attorney's office said.

"Our community faces serious risks of violence from felons in possession of firearms," Eldridge said. "We will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases, and hopefully prevent violence throughout the Western District of Arkansas."

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