Damien Diggs U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas
A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Bobby Ray Emanis, 40, was sentenced to 70 months by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case originated in September 2023 when Liberty County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle on County Road 2286 in Cleveland. The vehicle was parked with its lights off and lacked both a front license plate and a registration sticker. Emanis, identified as the driver, informed the deputy about a sawed-off shotgun behind the seat. The loaded shotgun was subsequently recovered.
Further investigation revealed that Emanis had prior convictions in Liberty County, Nacogdoches County, and Harris County, making it illegal for him to own or possess firearms under federal law.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
The investigation was conducted by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn prosecuted the case.
