Zebulon Marzette, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Indiana 2022

SOUTH BEND, IN – Zebulon Marzette, 39, of South Bend, Indiana, is facing federal time after a jury found him guilty of possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon. The verdict came after a two-day trial before United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Department of Justice.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), alongside the South Bend Police Department, investigated the case. Details surrounding the initial discovery of the firearm and Marzette’s connection to it remain scarce in publicly available information, but prosecutors successfully argued that Marzette knowingly violated federal law by possessing the weapon.

Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan M. Doyle and Joel Gabrielse, with assistance from AUSA Luke N. Reilander and former AUSA Geovanny E. Martinez, secured the conviction. The prosecution presented evidence that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Marzette, as a previously convicted felon, was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.

Marzette is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2023. Judge Leichty will determine the specific penalty, factoring in federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines. The potential range of sentencing for a felon in possession of a firearm varies, but could carry a significant prison term.

Federal officials are touting this case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement at all levels with the communities they serve. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on community trust, violence prevention, strategic enforcement, and measurable results.

While the feds celebrate a win for PSN, the conviction of Zebulon Marzette highlights the continued struggle to keep firearms out of the hands of those legally prohibited from possessing them. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on Marzette’s sentencing as it develops. The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, led by Clifford D. Johnson, handled the prosecution.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Weapons

Philip A. Ruiz, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, New York 2014

Nov 18, 2014

Weapons

Nicholas Coy, Prohibited Firearm Possession, Maine 2016

Jun 6, 2017

Weapons

Kyle Henry Marcum, Aiding and Abetting Stolen Firearm Sale, Idaho 2017

May 24, 2017

Weapons

Buck Otto White, Firearms Trafficking, Minnesota 2015

Apr 30, 2015