Pittsburgh man sentenced to nearly 5 years in federal prison for gun violations

A Pittsburgh felon who fired a gun in the air during a neighborhood dispute two years ago was ordered to serve nearly five years in federal prison.

Ambrose Sample II, 39, was sentenced in federal court to four years and seven months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his conviction on gun charges.

Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence following a bench trial.

Authorities said Sample pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired shots into the air after a dispute with neighbors in June 2017.

He then fled on foot but was stopped by police a short distance from his home. Primer-gunshot residue was found on both of his hands.

Authorities said Sample had been drinking heavily that day and had also taken prescription Percocet, a strong painkiller.

Officers recovered ammunition from his home, but did not locate the gun.

Authorities said Sample has been previously convicted of third-degree murder, aggravated harassment by a prisoner, simple assault, fleeing and eluding police and tampering with evidence, all of which prohibit him from possessing ammunition or a gun.

Pittsburgh police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.