Gary Crawford, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Tennessee 2023

Memphis, TN – A federal jury has found Gary Crawford, 32, guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Kevin Ritz today. The guilty verdict comes after a two-day trial.

According to information presented in court, on October 27, 2021, a male on Porter Street and Ioka Avenue was reported to be armed with a machete. Memphis Police Officers responded to the 700 block of Porter and spoke with a complainant who advised that a man named Gary from the neighborhood threatened her with a machete and left it on her porch. Officers recovered the machete.

While still on the scene, officers responded to another call that a man fitting the same description began firing shots in the area. Crawford was found sitting on a couch on the porch of a home on Ioka Avenue. After noticing the officers, Crawford stood up and began waving a firearm and yelling at the officers. He was ordered to drop the weapon but did not comply and a standoff began.

A short time later, the firearm fell from his lap, he stood up, walked off the porch, and undressed in the front yard before officers rushed and took him into custody. A Smith & Wesson 9mm caliber pistol was recovered where Crawford was sitting.

As a result of his felony convictions, Crawford is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Sentencing is set on April 7, 2023, before United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays. This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), and the Memphis Police Department.

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Regina Thompson and Stephen Hall, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or cherri.green@usdoj.gov. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.

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