ROCKFORD, IL – Brandon L. Dishman, 33, is headed to federal prison for nearly six years after a desperate attempt to outrun Rockford police with a loaded handgun. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Dishman to 70 months on Thursday for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon – a charge he admitted to last year.
The incident unfolded on December 21, 2020, when Dishman was riding in a vehicle and found to be in possession of a .45-caliber pistol. When the Rockford Police Department attempted a traffic stop, Dishman bolted. Ignoring repeated commands to halt, he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot through a residential neighborhood.
The chase was short-lived, but not before Dishman ditched the loaded weapon. Police quickly apprehended him and recovered the pistol from a front yard in the area. The recovery of the firearm, combined with Dishman’s prior conviction, sealed his fate in federal court. He now faces a significant stretch behind bars.
Federal authorities are touting the case as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime. U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr., for the Northern District of Illinois, emphasized that holding illegal firearm possessors accountable is a cornerstone of the program.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – specifically the Chicago Field Division led by Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews – and the Rockford Police Department under Chief Carla Redd. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Beckman prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence.
This case highlights the federal government’s commitment to cracking down on gun crime, particularly amongst those already prohibited from possessing firearms. Dishman’s actions not only endangered public safety but also violated federal law, resulting in a substantial prison term. The Northern District of Illinois, under Lausch’s leadership, continues to prioritize firearm offenses as part of its broader violent crime reduction strategy.
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