Fort Smith Man Sentenced To More Than 6 Years In Federal Prison For Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

Fort Smith, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Joseph Shelby, age 33, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 77 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for one count of Knowingly Possessing a Firearm After a Felony Conviction. The Honorable P.K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court records, in July 2018, Shelby was observed driving a white Tahoe erratically in Booneville, Arkansas by Arkansas State Police. The trooper followed the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. Shelby sped up and fled from the trooper. Shortly thereafter, Shelby lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a ditch. Shelby attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended. A search of the vehicle yielded a Taurus, model PT738, .380 caliber pistol, with serial number obliterated, tucked between the driver’s seat, and the center console. Shelby had two prior felony convictions for Robbery and Theft of Property.

Shelby was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2018, and entered a guilty plea in February 2019.

This case was investigated by the Arkansas State Police, Booneville Police Department, Logan County Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Fire, Tobacco, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the United States.

 This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.