Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee announced updates, in separate cases, on two convicted felons who used firearms in connection with other alleged crimes.
Per federal law, convicted felons are not allowed to possess firearms.
In the first case, officials announced they had sentenced Fred Lee Williams, 37, to 108 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, according to a press release.
In 2018 DEA Task Force officers said they saw Williams in a parked vehicle pull a bag from the driver’s side door and show it to another male.
“Williams then pulled a gun from the center area of the car and began waving it around. Williams put the gun down and exited the vehicle. He was temporarily detained while officers assessed the situation,” the press release said.
“The gun, which had been reported stolen, was found in plain view, on the driver’s side floorboard. While opening the door to retrieve the gun, officers observed a clear bag of marijuana in the driver’s door, weighing 114.9 grams. The gun, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, was loaded with five rounds of ammunition. Further evidence proved Williams purchased the gun that same day in exchange for three grams of marijuana.”
Williams has two prior felony convictions for aggravated assault in 2007 and 2012, and three prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to sell in 2003, 2009, and 2017. Additionally, Williams was on probation for a drug trafficking offense at the time of his arrest for the instant offense, the press release said.
Members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in a separate press release, said Erik Macklin, 24, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen gun.
“According to information presented in court, on November 1, 2019, members of the Germantown Police Department were conducting surveillance on Macklin, a suspect in multiple aggravated burglaries in Germantown, Tennessee. Macklin also had an outstanding arrest warrant,” the press release said.
“Officers located Macklin at a local business. As they approached and asked him to step outside, Macklin pulled away from the officers and grabbed a firearm from his waistband. Law enforcement was able to restrain Macklin, which caused him to drop the firearm, and he was taken into custody. The firearm was a.45 caliber pistol that had been reported stolen from West Memphis, Arkansas, several weeks prior.”
Macklin waived his Miranda rights and admitted to possessing the firearm, the press release said.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Meanwhile Sheriff Hall wants to empty Nashville’s jails.
Seems to me that repeat offenders should get even longer sentences.
Well what do you know. Instead of creating more laws that take away the rights of law abiding citizens, existing laws are being enforced. If the Democrats were in control of America they would be letting violent felons out of prison just like the Leftist governors have been doing because of the “pandemic”. And…..they would be passing legislation taking away the rights of Americans to defend themselves from the criminals that have been turned loose. This is just another example of the insanity of the Left.