FITCHBURG, WI – A Fitchburg man is headed back to federal prison after a late-night encounter with police revealed a loaded 9mm handgun and a return to old habits. Derrick Johnson, 27, was sentenced today to 33 months behind bars for being a felon in possession of a firearm, with an additional 9 months tacked on for violating the terms of his supervised release from a previous federal drug conviction.
The bust went down December 5, 2022, when Fitchburg police responded to a call about a man reportedly carrying a gun at an apartment complex. Officers spotted Johnson matching the description and quickly observed him attempting to stash something under a bush. That “something” turned out to be a loaded 9mm pistol. A search also yielded small amounts of marijuana, MDMA, and cocaine in his pockets, though the gun charge carried the heaviest penalty.
This isn’t Johnson’s first rodeo with the federal justice system. Back in 2018, he was convicted of possessing hydrocodone with intent to distribute and illegally carrying a firearm during that drug trafficking operation. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley handed down a six-year sentence at that time. He was still on supervised release when he was caught with the 9mm, a clear violation that led Judge Conley to revoke his supervision and add another nine months to his sentence.
At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Conley didn’t mince words. He stated that Johnson failed to address underlying issues of drug use and mental health while on release. Instead, the judge noted, Johnson “got a gun and went back to the same lifestyle” that landed him in prison the first time. The judge’s comments underscore a pattern of behavior that continues to put Johnson, and potentially others, at risk.
The investigation that led to Johnson’s conviction was a joint effort between the Fitchburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Justice Department program focused on reducing violent crime by coordinating federal and local law enforcement efforts.
The PSN program specifically targets gun crime, focusing on repeat offenders like Derrick Johnson – felons illegally possessing firearms. The goal is to disrupt the cycle of violence and remove dangerous individuals from the streets. Johnson’s 42-month sentence sends a message that such actions will not be tolerated in Western Wisconsin.
Related Federal Cases
- Calvin Henderson, Illegal Gun Possession, Fitchburg WI, 2024 · Wisconsin
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- McClendon Jailed for Illegal Gun Possession, Madison WI, 2023 · Illinois
- Christopher J. Melahn, Illegal Gun Possession, Illinois 2024 · Illinois
- Nathaniel Larson, Illegal Gun Possession, Eau Claire WI, 2024 · Wisconsin
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