Eau Claire Felon Potter Sentenced to 4 Years for Firearm Possession

MADISON, WIS. – The grim tale of Gavin Potter, 21, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, took a dark turn yesterday as the defendant was sentenced to four years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson.

Potter’s sentence includes three additional years of supervised release after his prison term. The guilty plea came on September 14, 2021, marking the culmination of an investigation that began with Potter’s arrest in December 2020 for a state crime.

During the arrest, authorities executed a search warrant at Potter’s residence, uncovering a SIG Sauer P320 9mm handgun, firearm magazines, ammunition, and marijuana concealed in a safe. The investigation revealed that Potter traded a Ruger LCP .380 pistol for the SIG P320 9mm just weeks prior to his arrest.

Further probing by the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office exposed an internet trail leading to firearms searches on Potter’s phone, suggesting involvement in drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, Potter was already on supervision for felony burglary and possessing a short-barreled shotgun, with a prior state prison term for marijuana trafficking.

Judge Peterson highlighted Potter’s serious criminal history, noting that at his age, the defendant poses a significant threat to community safety. The judge emphasized the court’s duty to protect the public from such dangerous individuals. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan led the prosecution in this case.

This sentence is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Justice Department’s initiative targeting violent crime, including gun crimes committed by felons and drug-related offenses. The PSN approach fosters collaboration between state and federal prosecutors and law enforcement at all levels to address such criminal activities effectively.