Demetrius Howard, a 34-year-old resident of Menomonie, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for 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. Howard pleaded guilty to the charge on June 24, 2025.
The case stems from an incident on December 20, 2024, when a Dunn County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Howard’s vehicle for speeding. During the stop, the deputy searched the car and found a bag in the backseat containing a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun. According to court records, Howard told the deputy that he would have fled if his child had not been in the car and said there could have been a “shootout.” He initially claimed he found the gun by a dumpster and intended to throw it into water.
Howard has a previous state conviction for party to the crime of armed robbery, which prohibits him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson expressed doubt about Howard’s explanation regarding how he obtained the firearm. "Howard then admitted that was not true and that he actively sought out the gun due to threats he was receiving." Judge Peterson reminded Howard that as a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms and noted that committing this offense while under supervision made it more serious.
The investigation was conducted by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The task force includes federal agents from ATF along with officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted the case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms like this one are part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies.
