Convicted Felon Gets 9 Year Sentence for Gun Possession

Memphis, TN – Fred Lee Williams, 37, has been sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on July 12, 2018, at approximately 7:30 p.m., DEA Task Force Officers conducted surveillance at North Watkins Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Officers observed Williams, who was sitting in a 2007 Honda Accord in a parking lot with the driver’s side door open, pull a bag from the driver’s side door, and show it to another male. Williams then pulled a gun from the center area of the car and began waving it around. Williams put the gun down and exited the vehicle. He was temporarily detained while officers assessed the situation.

The gun, which had been reported stolen, was found in plain view, on the driver’s side floorboard. While opening the door to retrieve the gun, officers observed a clear bag of marijuana in the driver's door, weighing 114.9 grams. The gun, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, was loaded with five rounds of ammunition. Further evidence proved Williams purchased the gun that same day in exchange for three grams of marijuana.

As a result of his two prior felony convictions for aggravated assault in 2007 and 2012, and three prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to sell in 2003, 2009, and 2017, Williams is prohibited by federal law from possession of firearms or ammunition. Additionally, Williams was on probation for a drug trafficking offense at the time of his arrest for the instant offense.

On September 25, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Williams to 108 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Targeted, persistent law enforcement can make a difference in our neighborhoods. Each illegal firearm that we can take off the streets and every dangerous felon in possession that we can punish and incapacitate makes our communities a safer place to live."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Memphis Police Department (MPD) investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

###