GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Dominic Nathaniel Alexander, 36, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, will spend the next 46 months in federal prison after being sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, a charge that peeled back a decade-long history of brutal violence against multiple partners. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Hala Y. Jarbou handed down the sentence at the top of the advisory range, citing the “seriousness of this offense” and Alexander’s documented pattern of assaultive behavior.
Federal prosecutors argued for a harsher sentence, laying bare a disturbing pattern of abuse that included beating and choking domestic partners. Beyond the domestic violence, records revealed a 2018 conviction for stabbing an unarmed man in the back and throat, causing permanent injuries. Alexander pleaded guilty to possessing a pistol and 117 rounds of ammunition in this latest case – a dangerous combination for a man with such a violent background, authorities say.
“Today’s sentence sends a message to both perpetrators and victims of domestic violence,” declared U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “To perpetrators: if you illegally possess a firearm, federal agents and prosecutors stand ready to investigate and prosecute you to the fullest extent permitted by law. To victims: we see you, and we hear your silent cries for help. Please know there is hope, and that you are not alone.” The statement highlights a growing federal emphasis on linking illegal firearms to domestic violence, a connection often overlooked in traditional gun crime investigations.
ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir was blunt in his assessment of the case. “Dominic Alexander is a convicted felon and a serial domestic violence abuser who illegally possessed and sold an illegal firearm. Above all else, accountability matters,” Deir stated. “Mr. Alexander is going to have a lot of free time to reflect on his consistent track record of illegal activity. Our community is a safer place today with Mr. Alexander off the streets.”
The case underscores the grim statistics surrounding domestic violence. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence data shows that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience physical violence by an intimate partner. The presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation dramatically increases the risk of homicide – victims are five times more likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a gun. This case, and others like it, are part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a program designed to reduce violent crime through collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
This sentencing follows a similar case earlier this year, where the U.S. Attorney’s Office secured a 15-year sentence for Mitchell Pierce, 45, of Muskegon, who pleaded guilty to stalking and being a felon in possession of firearms. Pierce had allegedly threatened to torture and kill his ex-wife, her children, and other family members. Federal officials are increasingly focused on utilizing existing criminal firearm laws to protect vulnerable populations, specifically those impacted by domestic abuse, signaling a shift in priorities within the Western District of Michigan.
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