Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 17 Years for Possession of a Firearm
Memphis, TN – Davien Stokes, 39, of Horn Lake, Mississippi, has been sentenced to 210 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 January 22, 2018, Memphis Police responded to a request for a welfare check at a local business complex on Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. Officers arrived to find a 2013 red Ford Focus obstructing the entrance way of the business with keys in the ignition and the engine was idle.
The driver, later identified as Davien Stokes, appeared to be unconscious. Eventually, Stokes began to move around in the seat. As he did so, officers observed an open container of alcohol on the front passenger seat. Stokes attempted to grab something and told officers he was reaching for his mouthwash. Officers were able to see a Ruger 9mm pistol in the cup holder. Also, 23 live rounds of 9mm ammunition and one spent shell casing were found in the vehicle. The gun was loaded with two live rounds of ammunition in the magazine. Officers learned that Stokes' drivers’ license had been revoked since 2015.
Due to three prior violent felony convictions for robberies in 1999, 2005, and 2010, Stokes is prohibited by federal law from possession of a firearm or ammunition. At sentencing, Stokes was determined to be an armed career criminal, which carries a 15 year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
On July 28, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Stokes to 210 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Our PSN efforts continue to provide targeted prosecution of the worst of the worst violent offenders in order to enhance public safety
in Memphis. This significant sentence removes an armed career criminal from the community, and sends a strong message that we will no longer tolerate this lawless behavior. We are FED UP with gun crime in Memphis, and will continue to aggressively prosecute prohibited and dangerous offenders with firearms. Gun Crime is Max Time."
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department, Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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