Madison, Wis. – Joseph Harrison, a 36-year-old resident of Madison, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison for brandishing a firearm during a harrowing dispute. The sentence came after Harrison pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025, to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
On April 9, 2024, the city of Madison was put on edge when Harrison pointed a loaded handgun at a woman, threatening her life during an escalating argument. He then made a hasty escape in another woman’s car. With Harrison being under state supervision for a prior offense, law enforcement leveraged GPS tracking to apprehend him, discovering a concealed Beretta .22 caliber handgun beneath the seat he had occupied.
Judge William M. Conley, who presided over the sentencing, noted that Harrison’s criminal history is a “disastrous path” and highlighted his violent streak, particularly towards women. The judge emphasized the necessity of a substantial sentence of 6½ years to protect public safety from this repeat offender.
The investigation into Harrison’s crime was led by the La Crosse Police Department in collaboration with the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. This task force is an amalgamation of federal agents and state/local law enforcement from across the Western District of Wisconsin, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Ginsberg, Jennifer Remington, and Corey Stephan.
Harrison’s conviction is part of Operation Take Back America, a DOJ initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and safeguarding communities from violent crime. The operation coordinates resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
RELATED: Madison Gun Threat: Harrison Gets 6 ½ Years
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Related Federal Cases
- Janesville Felon Gets 3 Years for Illegal Gun 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
- La Crosse Felon Gets 5-Year Sentence for Gun Possession · Wisconsin
- La Crosse Felon Gets 5-Year Sentence for Gun Possession · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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