Berkeley man pleads guilty to federal gun charges

OAKLAND – A 45-year-old Berkeley man is headed to prison for six years after he pleaded guilty to possessing guns and bullets as a convicted felon, according to prosecutors.

The federal case stemmed from a shooting in Oakland on Feb. 17, 2023. Rufus Rogers, armed with a gun, approached another person outside of a liquor store on San Pablo Avenue and followed them around the corner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release Friday.

After a verbal confrontation, the person fired a single shot into the air. Rogers then raised his firearm toward the person and fired a total of three rounds, according to prosecutors.

No one was injured in the shooting.

Rogers pleaded guilty to one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was remanded into custody on Wednesday.

In addition to the prison term, Rogers was sentenced to a three-year period of supervised release.