FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
September 26, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:11-cr-0024-OWW

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that today United States District Judge Oliver W. Wanger sentenced Christopher Madden, 28, of Fresno, to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to Madden's guilty plea, on January 5, 2011, Madden was riding his bicycle at night with no lighting. When law enforcement officers approached him, Madden fled. As he fled, he dropped one firearm, and the officers found another firearm on his person when they arrested him. Madden said he was carrying the guns because people were trying to kill him due to the fact that he was a West Side Crip.

According to court documents, Madden was convicted in 2003 for possession of a controlled substance and in 2006 for possession of cocaine base for sale. Madden also admitted to being on parole at the time of his arrest.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department as part of Operation Ceasefire, a component of Project SAFE Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is a cooperative effort between federal, state and local law enforcement to combat gang and gun violence. Operation Ceasefire is an outreach program that offers gang members options through which they can remove themselves from the violent gang lifestyle. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Sanchez prosecuted the case.

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