FRESNO, Calif. — In a shocking turn of events, 33-year-old Christopher Howard of Delano pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Howard was carrying a loaded 9mm caliber handgun and an additional loaded high-capacity magazine in Delano on the evening of April 28, 2021. Unfortunately, this is not Howard’s first run-in with the law.
Records show Howard has sustained numerous felony convictions, including possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, escape, and two instances of second-degree burglary. This makes him ineligible to lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.
The case was a result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Delano Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker is handling the prosecution.
Howard is set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on December 13, 2021. He faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, the actual sentence will be determined by the court after considering any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. The PSN program aims to reduce violent crime by targeting the most violent offenders and partnering with locally based prevention and reentry programs.
As part of this strategy, the PSN program focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and works with the community to develop comprehensive solutions to address violent crime.
The outcome of this case serves as a reminder of the importance of gun control and the need to hold felons accountable for their actions.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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