U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz | U.S. Department of Justice
Tommie Conner, a 49-year-old resident of Memphis, has been sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren made the announcement regarding the sentence.
Court evidence revealed that on March 4, 2021, a Memphis Police Department officer observed Conner's Dodge Durango speeding on American Way. After pulling over the vehicle, Conner fled but was subsequently located by officers. A handgun was seen in plain view inside the Durango during the investigation. Officers obtained a search warrant and recovered a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol.
Conner's criminal history includes pleading guilty in 1993 to two counts of robbery and three counts of aggravated robbery in state court, resulting in a ten-year incarceration sentence. In 2005, he was convicted again for being a felon in possession of a firearm and received a fifteen-year federal imprisonment sentence after being classified as an armed career criminal.
In September 2021, Conner faced indictment for being a felon with possession of a firearm. By June 2024, he was found guilty by jury trial. The jury determined that at least three of his prior offenses occurred on separate occasions, qualifying him for sentencing under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA).
On December 19, 2024, Senior Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Conner to serve 200 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. It is important to note that there is no parole option within the federal system.
This case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, an enhanced strategy was launched focusing on fostering trust within communities and supporting organizations working to prevent violence.
The PSN Gun Task Force led this investigation along with assistance from the Memphis Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren expressed gratitude towards Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Jermal Blanchard for prosecuting this case alongside their law enforcement partners.
###
