⏱ 2 min read
Zephanial Flynn, a 43-year-old Memphis man with a long history of felony convictions, was caught walking through the Orange Mound neighborhood with an assault rifle. On May 5, 2026, a jury found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Flynn’s criminal record includes attempted robbery, possession of a controlled substance, and domestic violence, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm under federal law.
When officers with the Memphis Police Department Fugitive Task Force approached Flynn, he discarded the rifle and fled on foot. He was arrested at his grandmother’s house minutes later and later made a recorded jail call admitting to possessing the assault rifle. Despite this, Flynn committed perjury and obstructed justice by providing false testimony under oath that he never possessed the rifle.
On August 12, 2026, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Flynn to 77 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant stated that convicted felons who possess firearms pose a significant danger to the community and that this sentence makes the community safer.
Flynn’s sentence serves as a warning to other convicted felons who illegally possess firearms. The sentence is a result of the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the Memphis Police Department and federal authorities.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Tennessee
- Location: TN
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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