Dustin Cullins, a 37-year-old resident of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson and will be followed by three years of supervised release. Cullins had pleaded guilty to the charge on July 9, 2025.
Law enforcement discovered a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun and ammunition hidden inside a clothes dryer during a probation search at Cullins’s residence. Cullins admitted to purchasing the firearm and ammunition, stating he kept them for potential use against his girlfriend’s ex-husband. Due to prior felony convictions, Cullins is barred from legally owning firearms or ammunition and was on state probation when the offense occurred.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson addressed Cullins's extensive criminal record and noted his history of drug use as an aggravating factor. "Cullins is exactly the kind of person who should not have a firearm," said Judge Peterson. He also encouraged Cullins to participate in substance abuse treatment while incarcerated.
The case resulted from an investigation by the Eau Claire Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which includes agents from ATF as well as officers from state and local agencies within the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and addressing violent crime through coordinated resources such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
