Madison Felon Gets 5 Years for Illegal Gun Possession

MADISON, WI – Kevin F. Thomas, 31, of Madison, Wisconsin, will spend the next five years in federal prison after being sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley for illegally possessing firearms. Thomas pleaded guilty to the charges back on February 1, 2019, but the consequences have finally arrived. He’ll also face a three-year supervised release after his prison term is completed.

The case stems from a pair of shootings that rocked Madison’s west side on March 21, 2018. Police recovered fifteen shell casings – both 9mm and .40 caliber – from the scenes. Shortly after, a woman known to Thomas was arrested with a 9mm and a .40 caliber handgun. Investigators quickly pieced together that she, along with Thomas and a juvenile male, were all in the same vehicle during the shootings. Surveillance footage later confirmed Thomas was, in fact, in possession of both firearms on the night in question.

This wasn’t Thomas’ first brush with the law, or the justice system. He already had two prior felony convictions on his record: second-degree murder/provocation from 2005 in Cook County, Illinois, and aggravated battery/public place from 2016 in Knox County, Illinois. Adding insult to injury, or perhaps a grim foreshadowing, Thomas sports a tattoo on his arm that reads, “live by the gun, die by the bullet.” A clear indication of his lifestyle and disregard for the law.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Scott C. Blader, highlighted that this prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at curbing violent crime. PSN relies on a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local agencies, alongside community involvement, to both prevent and deter gun violence. The program’s goal is simple: get guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Madison Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). They worked tirelessly to connect Thomas to the firearms and build a solid case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow handled the prosecution, ensuring that Thomas faced the full weight of the law for his actions.

With Thomas behind bars, authorities hope to send a clear message: possessing firearms while a convicted felon will not be tolerated. The streets of Madison are a little safer tonight, but the Grimy Times will continue to monitor the situation and report on any further developments in this case, and all the dirty details of federal crime.

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