Felon Sentenced to 34 Months for Possessing Loaded Handgun
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Juan Longino, 46, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 34 months in federal prison, for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon. Longino pleaded guilty to this charge on April 23, 2019. His prison term will be followed by a three-year period of supervised release.
In December 2018 and January 2019, Longino drove a heroin dealer around Madison, while the dealer sold heroin to an undercover officer. A warrant was executed at Longino’s home on January 9, 2019, and officers recovered a loaded handgun under his mattress, as well as 5.6 grams of heroin. Longino claimed the heroin was for his personal use and that the firearm was for protection. Longino has an extensive criminal history that spans 26 years. His most recent felony conviction was obtained in 2014, for strangulation/suffocation.
Judge Peterson initially imposed a sentence of 42 months, but then credited Longino for the eight months he has spent in pretrial detention.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
The charge against Longino was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
