Decorian Lynndale Titus, Assault on Federal Agent, Texas 2023

DALLAS, TX – Two Dallas men are facing decades behind bars after a violent confrontation with an undercover ATF agent during a botched drug and gun deal. Decorian Lynndale Titus, 19, and Damon Gentry, 23, were sentenced Friday to a combined 39 years in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

The incident unfolded on May 18, 2023, when the ATF agent met with Titus and Gentry intending to purchase marijuana and firearms. The deal quickly turned dangerous. Court documents reveal the pair immediately brandished their weapons, demanding the agent’s firearm and cash. Titus allegedly relieved the agent of both, then ordered him to the ground, leveling threats to shoot another individual present at the scene.

The pair didn’t stop there. As they fled, Titus reportedly pointed guns – one in each hand – at plain-clothed, but clearly marked, law enforcement officers, prompting a response that left him wounded. Agents opened fire, hitting Titus, who dropped one pistol before managing to fire a shot himself. Titus was arrested at the scene. Gentry initially escaped but was apprehended later.

Both Titus and Gentry pleaded guilty in September 2023 to one count each of assaulting certain officers, brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor handed down the sentences today: Titus received a staggering 324 months (27 years) in federal prison, while Gentry will serve 144 months (12 years).

The investigation was a multi-agency effort, involving the Federal Bureau of Investigations, ATF, Texas Rangers, Fort Worth Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith led the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by federal agents operating undercover, and the swift justice that awaits those who target them.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. The brazen nature of this attack, and the lengthy sentences handed down, underscores the federal government’s commitment to protecting its law enforcement officers and prosecuting those who attempt to harm them.

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