LAS VEGAS – Martel Deavon Nelson, 38, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 46 months for illegally possessing a modified AR-15 rifle. U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson handed down the sentence yesterday, followed by three years of supervised release. The case underscores the ATF’s ongoing crackdown on firearms offenses committed by convicted felons.
The trouble began July 5, 2020, when Nelson left his car running in the valet area of a Las Vegas casino. He then brazenly walked into the casino, barefoot, demanding money from a cashier. When he refused to leave, he became combative, lunging at security officers. While casino security wrestled with Nelson, an officer outside spotted the weapon – a short-barreled AR-15 pattern rifle – nestled between the driver and passenger seats of Nelson’s running vehicle.
A subsequent search of the vehicle, conducted by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers, revealed more than just the illegal rifle. The weapon’s serial number had been deliberately obliterated, a clear attempt to conceal its origin. Also recovered were a vertical fore-grip and a large-capacity magazine, already inserted into the firearm. The modifications and the obliterated serial number significantly escalated the charges Nelson faced.
Nelson’s criminal history played a key role in the sentencing. He already had a prior felony conviction in San Bernardino County, California, for attempted murder. This conviction legally barred him from possessing any firearm. The prosecution successfully argued that Nelson’s actions demonstrated a disregard for the law and a potential threat to public safety.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the ATF announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig led the prosecution. The case was brought under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts.
The ATF is urging anyone with information about illegal firearms activity – including straw purchases – to come forward. Tips can be reported to 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867) or anonymously through the ATF’s ReportIt mobile app. This case serves as a stark reminder that possessing illegal firearms, especially with a prior felony conviction, carries severe consequences.
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