Marcus Richard Thomas, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Nevada 2017

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In a shocking display of violence, a convicted felon aimed a stolen 9mm handgun at a police officer during an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, leaving the community shaken. Marcus Richard Thomas, 36, of Las Vegas, has been sentenced to a total of 120 months in prison for his role in the incident.

Thomas, a convicted felon, had previously pleaded guilty to one-count of possession of a stolen firearm. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to the plea agreement, Thomas admitted to bringing a stolen Glock 9mm firearm to the AA meeting on March 31, 2017. When approached by law enforcement, Thomas aimed the firearm at the police officer, who in turn fired at Thomas, striking him. Thomas admitted that he knew the firearm was stolen.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone.

As part of a series of actions to address rising violent crime in America, Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in October 2017. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

Thomas’s actions demonstrate the devastating consequences of carrying a stolen firearm and the importance of community programs like AA. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the need for stricter gun control measures. As the community continues to recover from this traumatic event, it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent such incidents in the future.