Demetrius Howard, Possessing a Firearm as a Felon, Wisconsin 2024

A 34-year-old man from Menomonie, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Demetrius Howard was stopped by a deputy with the Dunn County Sheriff's Office on December 20, 2024 for speeding.

A search of the vehicle found a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun in the backseat. Howard claimed he found the gun by a dumpster the day before and was going to throw it into the water.

However, at sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson found it unlikely that Howard found the gun by a dumpster. Howard then admitted that was not true and that he actively sought out the gun due to threats he was receiving.

Howard has a prior state conviction for party to the crime of armed robbery. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.

The charge against Howard was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dunn County Sheriff's Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.

Howard will also serve 3 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that aims to protect communities from violent crime.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwi/pr/menomonie-man-sentenced-2-12-years-illegally-possessing-firearm