In July of 2017, former NBA player Sebastian Telfair was pulled over in Brooklyn because one of his headlights was out. It appeared to be a routine stop, until the officer saw a lit marijuana cigarette on Telfair's dashboard.
After the officer smelled the burning marijuana, he searched the vehicle and found multiple loaded guns, ammunition, extended magazines, and a bullet-proof vest in addition to marijuana, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
On Monday, Telfair was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for gun possession.
New York has among the strictest gun laws in the country, and even though Telfair's guns were reportedly licensed in Florida, that doesn't carry much weight in New York City. Telfair appeared in front of a jury on Monday, pleading the judge, "Please don't take me from society right now."
“I am 34," Telfair said in court. "I can go play in China for six years and take care of my family."
Telfair played in China in 2015, briefly after his 10-year NBA career ended. During his pro career, he spent one year with the Boston Celtics before being included in Boston's 2007 trade for Kevin Garnett. Out of high school, Telfair was heralded as one of the most promising young players in the game, and was even featured on the cover of SLAM Magazine alongside LeBron James.
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