MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Reginald Lawrence, 53, of Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 65 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possessing heroin with intent to distribute and for possessing two firearms in furtherance of that offense. Lawrence pleaded guilty to these charges on Nov. 21, 2019.
On July 22, 2019, a woman called police and said Lawrence had pulled a gun on her and that he pushed her out of his apartment by her neck. When police arrived, Lawrence was observed by an officer carrying a backpack as he was running away from the apartment building. When police subsequently arrested Lawrence, he was not carrying a backpack, but was in possession of a large amount of cash.
Lawrence consented to a search of his apartment, and officers recovered small quantities of heroin. They searched the area where Lawrence had been seen running, and recovered a green backpack. Lawrence's Medicare card was in the backpack, as was as a loaded 9mm pistol. Two additional, loaded firearm magazines were also in the backpack, along with 94 grams of heroin, drug packaging materials, and a scale. In another pocket of the backpack, there was a.380 caliber pistol. Lawrence later admitted he had been selling heroin for six months.
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 charges against Lawrence were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
