Chicago man carried loaded gun in shopping bag on CTA train: prosecutors

The Brief

  • Gerald Pittman, 39, was arrested in July 2025 after prosecutors said he carried a loaded handgun in a shopping bag while riding a CTA Blue Line train, despite being legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions.
  • Pittman pleaded guilty in February 2026 to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and was sentenced May 19 to 30 months in federal prison.
  • Pittman also received an additional six months for violating the terms of his court-supervised release in a prior federal drug-trafficking case, bringing his total prison sentence to three years.

CHICAGO A Chicago man will spend three years in prison after prosecutors said he carried a loaded handgun in a shopping bag while riding a CTA Blue Line train during a period of court-supervised release.

The backstory:

Gerald Pittman, 39, was arrested July 28, 2025, while riding the train, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Pittman was drinking beer, smoking and carrying a red shopping bag that contained a loaded handgun.

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