Federal Grand Jury Indicts Bullitt County Felon for Illegally Possessing Firearm

Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on February 4, 2025, charging a local man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division.

According to the indictment, Craig Smith, 60, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On November 16, 2024, Smith possessed a Smith and Wesson, model T/C Compass, .308 caliber rifle, bearing serial number TJE4848, and ammunition. Smith was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On April 19, 2018, in Bullitt Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of complicity to theft by unlawful taking $500 or more but under $10,000.

On October 15, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of theft by unlawful taking over $300.

On September 12, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of illegal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, cocaine.

On January 3, 2006, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of complicity to burglary in the second degree and complicity to burglary in the third degree.

The defendant made his initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.   

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Mount Washington Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.      

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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