Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession While Fleeing From Police
LEXINGTON, Ky. – On August 30, 2019, Marcellis Means, 23, of Lexington, Kentucky, plead guilty to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) before U.S. Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves.
As part of his plea, Means admitted that on July 10, 2019, he was unlawfully in possession of a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense. On that date, a Lexington Police Officer made contact with Means and another occupant of a parked vehicle when Means exited the vehicle and began to flee from the officer. As part of his plea agreement, Means admitted that while fleeing, he attempted to get rid of the firearm which was eventually recovered by police. The firearm was loaded with one round of ammunition chambered.
The investigation was conducted by the Lexington Police Department in conjunction with the Kentucky State Police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Stuart L. Lowery, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington Police Department, and Richard W. Sanders, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement.
Means is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2019. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the 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.
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