SAVANNAH, AR – In a stark reminder of the consequences of carrying firearms in public, two men, James Thomas and Michael Brown, have been sentenced to prison on gun charges.
James Thomas, 32, of Fayetteville, was caught carrying a gun in the Savannah Mall, violating the federal law prohibiting felons from possessing firearms. Thomas, who has a prior conviction for robbery, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Michael Brown, 41, of Little Rock, fired shots in a neighborhood, putting innocent lives at risk. Brown, who has a prior conviction for armed robbery, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Both sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge James Maxwell in federal court in Fort Smith. The charges against both defendants were brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas, in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Thomas was caught carrying a firearm at the Savannah Mall on January 10, 2023, after being seen by security personnel. Brown fired shots in a neighborhood on April 15, 2022, after getting into an argument with a neighbor.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas commended the ATF for its work in investigating and prosecuting the cases. ‘These sentences send a strong message that felons who possess firearms will be held accountable for their actions,’ said U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes.
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