MADISON, WI – A Madison man is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence after terrorizing a woman with a loaded handgun and then being caught with the weapon during a traffic stop. Joseph Harrison, 36, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Harrison pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025, to the charge.
The incident unfolded on April 9, 2024, when Harrison allegedly brandished a gun, pointing it directly at a woman’s face and issuing threats to shoot her. He then made a hasty escape in a vehicle driven by another woman. Fortunately, Harrison was already under the watchful eye of law enforcement; he was on state supervision for a prior criminal offense, and his movements were being tracked via GPS monitoring. This allowed officers to quickly locate and apprehend him.
A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Beretta .22 caliber handgun hidden under the seat Harrison had occupied. Harrison, due to his prior felony convictions, is legally prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms. The quick work of the La Crosse Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force brought this dangerous individual to justice. The ATF Task Force comprises agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and officers from various state and local agencies across the Western District of Wisconsin.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley didn’t mince words, stating that Harrison had spent roughly 17 years cycling through jail and prison, demonstrating a “disastrous path” that endangered the public. The judge specifically highlighted Harrison’s history of violence, particularly towards women, as a key factor in the substantial sentence. Judge Conley determined that a 6 ½ year prison term was necessary to ensure public safety and potentially break the cycle of violence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Ginsberg, Jennifer Remington, and Corey Stephan skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting a compelling argument for a significant penalty. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a sweeping nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice. The operation aims to dismantle illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime by leveraging resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Harrison’s case serves as a stark reminder that illegally possessing a firearm, especially with a history of violence, will not be tolerated. The federal government, through initiatives like Operation Take Back America and the dedicated work of law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and prosecuting individuals who threaten the safety of our communities. This sentencing delivers a clear message: those who choose violence will face the full force of the law.
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Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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