Terrol DeBaun Travis, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Texas 2019

Terrol DeBaun Travis, a 43-year-old convicted felon, has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

A confirmed gang member, Travis has a history of drug, firearm and violent offenses spanning more than 20 years, according to ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. He was a fugitive with outstanding warrants for violating his parole when law enforcement officers observed him carrying a Ruger 9 mm handgun at his residence in Fort Worth in July 2019.

Travis, a member of the Crips street gang, dropped the gun on his doorstep while attempting to flee, and was apprehended moments later about 10 feet from his front door. Agents later determined the pistol, which was loaded with a high-capacity magazine, was stolen.

A known offender with multiple convictions, Travis was convicted in 1995 and 2004 of felony possession with intent to deliver cocaine, in 2004 of arson, in 2014 of felony domestic violence, and in 2014 of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in relation to a drug dispute.

U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox stated, “A convicted domestic violence, drug, and violent crime offender, this defendant should never have had his hands on a gun. This case sends a message to armed criminals: When you’re a three-time offender, unlawful possession can lead to decades behind bars.”

Travis was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison by Senior U.S. District Judge John H. McBryde, who noted, “You seem to have an affinity for engaging in criminal conduct with a firearm. That is a disturbing fact because it shows a propensity for violence.”

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the Fort Worth Police Department’s Fugitive Unit, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Gatto and Levi Thomas prosecuted the case under Project Guardian, the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence using federal firearm laws, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Domestic Violence Initiative, a push to fight domestic violence using federal firearm laws.

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