A man who authorities say admitted he is a gang member has been sentenced to serve seven years and a month in federal prison.
Tymetric Lejuan Graham appeared before Judge R. Allan Edgar.
On Feb. 22, Chattanooga Police officer John Patterson made a traffic stop and Graham exited the vehicle and fled on foot. He was caught a short distance away.
In the vehicle officers found a .22-caliber pistol with two rounds in the magazine under the driver's seat.
Graham, saying he was a gang member, said he needed the gun to protect himself from gang violence.
His guilty plea in Federal Court was to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He previously was convicted of attempted aggravated robbery.