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NASHVILLE — A Berrien County man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to a weapons charge.

Randy Todd Hughes, 35, of Nashville pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement.

He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. There is no parole in the federal system.

Berrien County deputies executed a search warrant for Hughes on Oct. 20, 2017, at his Nashville home. A .22-caliber revolver loaded with six rounds of ammunition was found, along with an additional 34 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, the statement said.

At the time of his arrest, Hughes was serving a 20-year probation sentence for a state charge of aggravated assault, the statement said. Hughes had also previously been convicted of the sale of cocaine in 2009, state prison records show.

In entering his guilty plea, Hughes admitted to possessing the firearm, the statement said.

“Prosecuting convicted felons with violent criminal histories who possess guns is a priority of this office,” Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in a statement.

The case was investigated by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.