James McGowan, Jr., Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Wisconsin 2022

State: Wisconsin
Category: Violent Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwi/pr/madison-felon-sentenced-2-years-illegal-gun-possession-0" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

A convicted felon from Madison, Wisconsin has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for being in possession of a firearm.

James McGowan, Jr., 23, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson on March 30, 2022 for the crime of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

On September 20, 2021, McGowan was a convicted felon who had been released on bail in four state cases, including Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felony Bail Jumping, Armed Robbery, Drug Possession, and Third-Degree Sexual Assault. Madison police officers were searching for McGowan due to multiple warrants for his arrest and located him in an apartment parking garage.

McGowan attempted to flee from the officers, resisted arrest, and had a loaded 9mm handgun in his waistband.

At sentencing, Judge Peterson stated that keeping McGowan in the community has not been effective, and that protection of the public was the main sentencing goal. The court observed that by illegally carrying a gun, McGowan was contributing to the risk of petty disputes turning into shootings that can injure or kill those involved as well as bystanders.

The charge against McGowan was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

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