Markel Strong, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Tennessee 2022

Tennessee Man Sentenced to 221 Months in Prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

A federal judge sentenced Markel Strong, 29, of Memphis, to 221 months in prison and three years of supervised release today for being a felon in possession of a firearm under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Strong was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his numerous prior violent felony convictions. On Jan. 19, 2022, Memphis Police Department (MPD) stopped a vehicle driven by Strong because its tint violated traffic law. Police observed, and seized, a firearm in plain view located in the front seat near the vehicle’s center console.

At today’s sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence of the defendant’s violent behavior while in custody, as well as other crimes to which the seized firearm has been linked. ATF and MPD investigated the case.

“Gun violence poses a significant danger to the safety and security of our communities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Criminal Division. “Today’s significant sentence highlights the Criminal Division’s steadfast commitment to aggressively prosecuting repeated armed offenders and protecting the public.”

“Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to community, and in this case, the defendant was an armed career criminal who continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee.

A federal jury found Strong guilty of being a felon in possession of the firearm and separately determined that Strong’s three prior violent felony convictions occurred on separate dates, which triggered enhanced punishment under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

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