Deshawn Danzler, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Illinois 2023

Chicago Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Possessing Firearm and Switch Device

A 28-year-old Chicago man has been sentenced to a combined eight years in federal prison for possessing a handgun with an extended magazine and a ‘switch’ that converted the firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.

Deshawn Danzler, of Chicago, was stopped by Chicago Police officers in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood of Chicago while driving a vehicle. During the stop, officers recovered a handgun that was hidden in Danzler’s crotch.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Danzler attempted to flee and struggled with the officers for over two minutes before the firearm was recovered.

At the time of his sentencing, Danzler had four previous felonies, including a contempt of court conviction. In 2015, a rival gang member shot Danzler in the head, wrist, and thigh, and killed Danzler’s neighbor. Danzler could identify the shooter but did not cooperate in the police investigation.

Danzler was sentenced to 62 months in prison for the firearms charge by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Durkin on February 24, 2023. He was also sentenced to 37 months to run consecutive to the first sentence for violating his supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald A. Guzman on April 6, 2023.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Mulaney and Albert Berry III. ‘Although he was a victim in the 2015 shooting, that is no longer a basis for lenience,’ argued Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Mulaney in the government’s sentencing memo.

The sentences are announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Eric Carter, Acting Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Deshawn Danzler

Criminal Charges: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

City and State: Chicago, Illinois

Exact Date: February 24, 2023 (sentencing date)

Sentence: 62 months in prison (first sentence), 37 months (second sentence) for a total of eight years and three months

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-man-receives-two-sentences-totaling-over-eight-years-possession-firearm-and