Fort Smith Man Sentened to 63 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms Violation

            Fort Smith, Arkansas – Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Michael Butler, age 37 of Fort Smith, was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable Chief Judge P. K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.

            According to court records, on April 27, 2016, parole officers were conducting a compliance check in Sebastian County when they encountered Michael Butler as he was exiting a truck. Upon observing the officers, Michael Butler reached for the back of his waistband. Officers ordered him to the ground and retrieved a loaded .22 caliber revolver from his waistband. Michael Butler was arrested and taken into custody and confessed to possessing the firearm. Because he had at least one prior felony conviction at the time of his arrest, he was prohibited from possessing firearms. Michael Butler was named in a federal indictment in May, 2016 and pleaded guilty to the charge in June, 2016.

            This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of firearms and improving the safety of residents in the Western District of Arkansas. Participants in the initiative include federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

            This case was investigated by Arkansas State Probation and Parole, Fort Smith Police Department and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.

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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov