SOUTH BEND, IN – Xavier Zebulon Marzette, 39, is headed to federal prison after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty handed down a 36-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. The case highlights the ongoing federal crackdown on illegal gun possession, particularly by those with prior convictions.
The bust originated back in September of 2019 when South Bend Police responded to a reported disturbance at a local apartment complex. Information surfaced that several individuals involved were potentially armed. Officers quickly moved to intercept a vehicle leaving the chaotic scene, and that’s where the heat turned up. Inside, they found a loaded 9mm handgun.
Investigators didn’t have to look far to connect the weapon to Marzette. Forensic analysis revealed his DNA on the handgun’s trigger – damning evidence presented to the jury during a two-day trial. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Katelan Doyle, successfully argued that Marzette’s prior felony conviction prohibited him from legally owning a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, with crucial support from the South Bend Police Department. The ATF’s Chicago Field Division was instrumental in building the case, meticulously tracing the firearm and gathering the evidence needed for a conviction. Details about Marzette’s prior conviction were not immediately released.
U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson framed the sentencing as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence at the local level. The program emphasizes collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as community-based violence prevention efforts.
The DOJ’s PSN strategy, updated in May 2021, focuses on four key pillars: building trust within communities, supporting grassroots organizations, prioritizing focused enforcement, and rigorously measuring results. While the program boasts lofty goals, the Marzette case serves as a stark reminder that illegal firearms continue to fuel violence on the streets of South Bend and beyond. Marzette will begin his 36-month sentence immediately.
Related Federal Cases
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- Vincent Jones, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, IN 2024 · Indiana
- Timothy J. Felty, Felon in Firearm Possession, IL 2016 · Illinois
- Michael Dee Cline, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, West Virginia … · West Virginia
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