Ronald Stalvey, Jr., 48, of Conway was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Florence for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Stalvey to two and a half years in prison.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on March 12, 2011, an Horry County Police Department officer was taking Stalvey's son to J. Reuben Long Detention Center when Stalvey's vehicle passed him traveling from the opposite direction. Stalvey made a U-turn and caught up with the patrol car. When the police car stopped at a stop sign, Stalvey stopped and parked, blocking traffic. Stalvey then approached the patrol car in an effort to talk with his son, at which time it was determined that Stalvey was carrying a loaded pistol in his pants pocket.

Stalvey had at least one prior felony conviction, therefore it was illegal for him to have a gun.

The case was investigated by the Horry County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office handled the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases.