Briante Banks, a 31-year-old La Crosse man, has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a stolen firearm as a felon. Banks, who pleaded guilty to the charge on February 6, 2024, was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
The crime began on May 2, 2023, when Banks was arrested for violating the conditions of his state probation. A subsequent search of his person revealed a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun, which was later found to have been stolen from a local gun shop in the La Crosse area. Banks, with prior felony convictions for drug trafficking, is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation into Banks’ crime was a collaborative effort between the La Crosse Police Department, the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted the case.
The charge against Banks is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a U.S. Justice Department program aimed at reducing violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors, as well as all levels of law enforcement, to address gun crime and other violent offenses.
At sentencing, Judge William M. Conley of the U.S. District Court noted that Banks had been under state supervision since 2014 and had largely failed to comply with the terms of his probation. Conley told Banks that he had not learned any lessons from his past, and that unless he made good use of his time in prison and engaged with his supervising probation officer after release, he would likely end up back in prison.
Banks’ sentencing is a significant blow to those who would seek to carry firearms illegally. As the U.S. Justice Department continues to crack down on gun crime, cases like Banks’ serve as a reminder of the importance of public safety and accountability.
As part of the ongoing effort to reduce violent crime, the U.S. Justice Department will continue to work with state and local law enforcement agencies to address gun crime, especially felons possessing firearms and ammunition. The Department’s commitment to public safety remains unwavering, and cases like Banks’ will be a key focus of the ongoing effort.
Related Federal Cases
- Felon Turnmire Sentenced to 51 Months for Illegally Possessing Firearm · Wisconsin
- Eau Claire Felon Potter Sentenced to 4 Years for Firearm Possession · Wisconsin
- La Crosse Felon Marcelle Davis Sentenced to 5 Years for Gun Possession · Wisconsin
- La Crosse Felon Marcelle Davis Sentenced to Five Years for Illegal Gun Possession · Wisconsin
- Turner Faces 15 Years for Felon Firearm Possession · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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