MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Darren E. Johnson, 24, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Conley to two years in federal prison. On May 3, 2018, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On Jan. 28, 2018, Johnson was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped because it did not have front or back license plates. The sheriff’s deputy who approached the vehicle recognized the smell of marijuana. Johnson admitted he was smoking marijuana and handed the deputy a marijuana cigarette. When the deputy removed Johnson from the vehicle, the deputy found a loaded.38 caliber handgun on Johnson’s person.
The charge against Johnson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
