John Michael Murphy, 30, of Many, Louisiana, is headed to federal prison for 30 months after being caught ditching a loaded 12-gauge shotgun during a traffic stop. The conviction marks another strike in the Justice Department’s push to lock up felons who get their hands on firearms.
Murphy was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, but prosecutors secured a 30-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. The outcome reflects the federal system’s zero tolerance for repeat offenders toting weapons.
The incident unfolded January 9, 2016, when Many police activated their patrol lights during a routine traffic stop. As the vehicle Murphy was riding in slowed, someone inside hurled a shotgun out the window. Murphy jumped out and bolted into a dense wooded area. Officers recovered the firearm—a 12-gauge loaded with live rounds—shortly after the stop. He was later arrested at his residence in Many.
On September 14, 2016, Murphy pleaded guilty to the sole count against him. No co-defendants were named, and no motive for the traffic stop evasion was disclosed. But the act of ditching a loaded weapon during a police pursuit sent a clear message: Murphy wasn’t supposed to have it—and he knew it.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Many Police Department, and the Zwolle Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods—a Justice Department initiative aimed squarely at reducing gun violence by targeting felons who illegally possess firearms.
Project Safe Neighborhoods has become a cornerstone of federal firearm enforcement, funneling resources into high-risk areas and stacking penalties against those who repeatedly flout gun laws. Murphy’s 30-month sentence sends a message: in Louisiana and across the country, illegal guns mean federal time.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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