TEXARKANA, TX – Kendall Ray Gray, 31, of Texarkana, is facing a decade behind bars after being convicted yesterday of illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown announced. The conviction comes after a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III in the Eastern District of Texas. Gray’s rap sheet already included prior convictions, making this latest offense a clear violation of federal law.
The trouble began November 9, 2018, when Texarkana police spotted Gray driving near a known hotbed for drug activity. Instead of cooperating, Gray attempted a desperate, clumsy escape. Officers reported he made four consecutive left turns, briefly parked in a restaurant lot, and then illegally cut across lanes, all while accelerating away from the marked patrol car. The chase led into a residential area where Gray ditched the vehicle, locked it, and took off running, ultimately being apprehended on foot.
A search of Gray’s vehicle wasn’t pretty. Cops found small bags containing suspected marijuana, but the real kicker was a loaded handgun with a round chambered, conveniently hidden under the driver’s seat. This wasn’t a first offense for Gray; records show he was previously convicted of counterfeiting and forging U.S. obligations in 2012, also in the Eastern District of Texas, and forgery in Bowie County in 2015. Those convictions already stripped him of the right to possess firearms.
A federal grand jury indicted Gray on January 17, 2019, charging him with federal firearms violations. Now, he’s staring down the barrel of up to 10 years in federal prison. The actual sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other factors. A presentence investigation will be conducted by the U.S. Probation Office before a sentencing hearing is scheduled.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, a program aimed at tackling gun and gang violence, and reducing illegal firearms possession in communities across the Eastern District of Texas. The initiative brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement, alongside community organizations, to improve public safety. It’s a multi-pronged approach to cleaning up the streets, and Gray’s conviction is a small victory in that ongoing battle.
The investigation was led by the Texarkana, Texas Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Bloss and Alan Jackson were responsible for the prosecution. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing as it becomes available. This case serves as a grim reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries serious consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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