SPOKANE - A convicted felon from Moses Lake was recently sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing at least 10 rounds of ammunition.

Joseph Adam Bercier, 32, pleaded guilty in November for a previously convicted felon in possession of ammunition charge and was sentenced in U.S. District Court last week to four years in prison and three years of court supervision following release.

According to court information, on April 10 of last year, the Spokane Police Department received a report that a 1995 Ford Thurderbird was stolen. Two days later, police saw Bercier driving the vehicle and initiated a felony stop. While searching w, officers reportedly found 10 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition in his left front pants pocket.

"Prosecuting firearms-related crimes continues to be a priority for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington," U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby said. "Previously convicted felons should be aware that there are serious criminal penalties connected with possession any ammunition and that this office is committed to prosecuting aggressively firearm-related cases in the Eastern District of Washington."

This case was investigated by the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane Violent Crimes Gang Enforcement Team, an FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

According to court records, Bercier has at least six previous felony convictions, including unlawful possession of a firearm and second-degree robbery stemming from a 2008 shooting in Spokane.