March 4, 2008

Further Information Contact:
Deanna Warren
Phone: (757) 441-6331

Former U.S. Military Member Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charges

(Norfolk, VA) – Elbert Tillman, Jr., age 35, of Suffolk, pled guilty today to possession of firearms and ammunition by a person who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance and possession of firearms not registered to him in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Tillman entered his guilty plea. Tillman is scheduled to be sentenced June 2, 2008. He faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

According to court documents, Tillman was arrested after a search warrant of his property was executed on December 29, 2007. The search resulted in the seizure of 21 rifles and handguns; explosive materials, including C-4 plastic explosives, a Claymore antipersonnel mine, incendiary grenades, detonation cord, blasting caps; and anabolic steroids. According to the indictment, Tillman, a former military member, had access to certain explosives and destructive devices during his military service.

This case was investigated by the Suffolk Police and Fire Departments, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Stoker is prosecuting the case for the United States.