Walter Watts Jr., Felon in Possession of a Firearm, California 2016

A Madera man, Walter Watts Jr., 47, has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Watts was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to 2 ½ years in prison for the crime. This sentence will begin on August 22, 2016, according to court documents.

According to court documents, on November 29, 2012, law enforcement officers searched Watts’ home and found a Tactical Machine semiautomatic rifle, a Heckler and Koch shotgun, and a .22-caliber firearm with an attached laser. Watts was previously convicted of felony tax evasion in April 2011.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Madera Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Rooney prosecuted the case.

Watts was previously convicted of felony tax evasion in April 2011. This previous conviction makes him a felon, and it is a crime for a felon to possess a firearm.

The 2 ½ year sentence is a significant outcome for Watts, who will be serving time in a federal prison. This sentence serves as a reminder that the law will be enforced, and those who break it will face consequences.

The case is a product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Madera Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Rooney prosecuted the case.

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