Albany man gets 10 years in prison for having illegal gun

An Albany man was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in prison on a weapons charge stemming from a crash and chase one year ago.

Tony Simmons, 25, pleaded guilty in February. Investigators tried to stop Tony Simmons near First Street and Henry Johnson Boulevard in April 2023.

Simmons left the scene, police said, and crashed his vehicle in the area of Lark and Colonie Street. Simmons then took off on foot and discarded an illegal handgun, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office said.  

The gun fired when he tossed it, according to prosecutors.

Simmons had pleaded guilty in February to criminal possession of a weapon. Charges of tampering with physical evidence and unlawfully fleeing a police officer were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Simmons also must serve five years of post-release supervision.