SPRINGDALE MAN SENTENCED TO 108 MONTHS FOR FEDERAL FIREARMS VIOLATION

Fayetteville, Arkansas - Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Michael Carnes, age 33 of Springdale, Arkansas, was sentenced yesterday for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Carnes was sentenced to 108 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $12,500 fine. United States District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren presided over the sentencing in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Carnes pleaded guilty to the offense on November 14, 2012.

On July 9, 2012, the Fayetteville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Carnes. Due to his erratic behavior, the officers asked for consent to search his person and found a handgun, knife and $4,000. Carnes admitted to being a convicted felon and was arrested. The officers later conducted a search of his residence and discovered two more firearms, methamphetamine, a drug ledger and $7,900. Carnes was previously convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver and Carrying a Prohibited Weapon out of Benton County, Arkansas.

United States Attorney Eldridge stated, “We remain committed to investigating and prosecuting felons in possession of firearms in order to keep our communities throughout the Western District of Arkansas safe from drugs and violence.”

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of firearms and improving the safety of residents in the Western District of Arkansas. Participants in the initiative include federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

This case was investigated by the Fayetteville Police Department, the 4th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.

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