A Littleton man will spend nearly 6 ½ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan today also sentenced William Joseph Love, 41, to three years supervised probation. His sentence was 77 months, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a criminal indictment on December 9, 2010, charging Love with four violations of federal firearms laws.

He entered a guilty plea on October 11, 2011, to possession of a firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

According to evidence presented in court, two controlled buys were arranged in which stolen firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun, and ammunition were purchased from Love even though he was prohibited to possess firearms and ammunition under federal law due to his prior conviction of breaking and entering and larceny.

Based on the number of firearms sold the court determined he trafficked firearms.

The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Raleigh office, conducted investigation of this case.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry handled the federal prosecution.

Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. Pitt County District Attorney Clark Everett assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.

His assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.