MADISON, WIS. -- - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Marquise S. Howard, 24, Madison, Wis., was sentenced on Friday, Aug. 10, by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to a combined sentence of seven years in federal prison for possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking felony. Howard pleaded guilty to both offenses on May 16, 2018.
On Jan. 18, 2018 at 2:30 a.m., Madison Police were dispatched to a multi-vehicle accident. Upon arriving, officers encountered three damaged vehicles and the occupants of those vehicles, including the defendant, Marquise Howard, who appeared to be intoxicated. As an officer was trying to obtain information about the accident from the individuals at the scene, Howard repeatedly stood up despite instructions to remain seated. While the officer was speaking to a witness to the accident, Howard stood up again and as he did, a gun fell from Howard onto the ground. The firearm was fully loaded with a round in the chamber.
Howard has a 2011 Dane County felony conviction for burglary while armed, and was out of custody on bond for two other Dane County felony offenses, which were pending at the time of the instant offense. When he was arrested on Jan. 18, Howard had just over $1,200 in cash in his possession, as well as cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana concealed on his body.
The charges against Howard were the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madison Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.
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
