Racine Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Illegal Gun Possession
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Montanez Miller, 25, Racine, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 37 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. This prison term will be followed by a 2-year period of supervised release. Miller pleaded guilty to this charge on January 21, 2022.
On May 16, 2021, Miller was in a bar in La Crosse with another individual who flashed a gun. Police were called, saw Miller nearby, and apprehended him after a foot chase. Miller had a pack slung across his body that contained a Glock 19 9mm pistol loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition, a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol loaded with 12 rounds, a Glock magazine with 30 rounds, and two plastic baggies of marijuana that weighed a total of 44.8 grams.
In 2013, Miller was convicted of the felony crimes of theft from person and possession with the intent to deliver marijuana in Racine County. He was sentenced to prison, which was stayed for a term of probation.
At sentencing, Judge Conley was concerned with Miller’s poor performance on supervision, and the fact that he was carrying drugs and guns. Judge Conley noted Miller’s prior offenses and probation warrant, saying that the long-term consequences of this type of conduct was likely to lead to Miller getting himself or others killed.
The charge against Miller was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.
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 emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
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