Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Demarius Chamon Johnson has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and handed down by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
Johnson, aged 35 from Jacksonville, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 3, 2023. He pleaded guilty to the charge on January 24, 2025.
The incident occurred on September 17, 2021, when officers from the North Little Rock Police Department found a stolen vehicle parked at the Fairview Inn in North Little Rock. Surveillance footage revealed that an individual had parked the vehicle and entered a room on the second floor. Officers discovered Johnson at the doorway of this room with an open door. Inside, they found a firearm next to a three-year-old child lying on one of the beds. Johnson was initially detained regarding the stolen car and admitted ownership of the gun while being handcuffed. The firearm, identified as a Colt Commander .45 caliber pistol with one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine, had been reported stolen from Little Rock.
Johnson's criminal record includes at least three prior convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses: residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, and felony drug possession and distribution. This history classifies him as an armed career criminal.
In addition to his prison term, Judge Miller sentenced Johnson to three years of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Jegley.
