ALBANY - Three men, all from the Albany area, face prison terms for possessing and selling illegal weapons.

Islam Botts, 20, of Troy, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree, a felony in County Court.  In accordance with a plea agreement reached in court Botts will be sentenced to two years determinate in state prison to be followed by three years of post-release supervision.  On November 5, 2011 Botts was found in a store on Quail Street in Albany with a loaded 22 caliber revolver which he discarded on a shelf in sight of an on duty police officer.

William Joe, 28, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree, a Felony.  Joe will be sentenced to three years determinate in state prison to be followed by 3 years of post release supervision in February.  DNA forensic analysis linked a firearm to his possession from an incident that occurred on June 27, 2011.

Jaleel Peterson, 19, of Albany, pleaded guilty on January 5th to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree, a felony.  Peterson will be sentenced to four years determinate in state prison to be followed by three years of post-release supervision.  On September 23, 2011 Peterson was a passenger of a vehicle that was pulled over for a traffic infraction on First Street in Albany.  Upon search police found a loaded 357 Smith and Wesson revolver in Peterson’s waistband.  The gun was loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

Carlos Wilson, 56, of Albany, was sentenced to one to three years in state prison for previously pleading guilty to one count of attempted criminal sale of a firearm.  On August 4, 2011 WILSON sold a firearm to an undercover Albany County Sheriff for $500 in a parking lot of Crossgates Mall.

“These cases illustrate just how pervasive the illegal firearm problem is in the County of Albany,” said District Attorney P. David Soares.  “Through Operation Speeding Bullet these cases were fast-tracked and resolutions were reached at the felony level. Luckily no one was shot or injured in any of these incidents, but the fact remains that four illegal firearms were taken off the streets and perpetrators are heading to state prison for events that could have been prevented.”