United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

DALLAS MAN CONVICTED FOR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

Michael Dewayne Vickers, age 45, of Dallas, Texas, was convicted today by a federal jury for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Vickers will be sentenced on May 11, 2007 by United States District Judge Jane Boyle, who presided over the two-day trial. Vickers faces 15 years to life imprisonment, without parole, because the sentencing law classifies him as an Armed Career Criminal, which prescribes harsher punishment for offenders with three or more prior convictions for serious felonies.

Court testimony showed that on August 30, 2005, officers with the Dallas Police Department responded to a complaint on Andover Drive and encountered Vickers, who matched the description of the individual reported by the complainant. As officers attempted to frisk Vickers for weapons, Vickers attempted to flee and exclaimed, "I can't go to jail." Officers quickly captured Vickers and discovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver concealed on his person. Officers then learned that Vickers was a convicted felon and, thus, he was not eligible to possess a firearm. According to court documents, Vickers was convicted in 1982 for murder, in 1989 for burglary of a habitation, and in 1991 for cocaine distribution.

The case was presented to the United States Attorney's Office for prosecution under the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, which is geared toward the aggressive prosecution of firearm offenses. The United States Attorney applauded the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Dallas Police Department in assisting his office in a successful prosecution of a serious firearm offense. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Tromblay and Special Assistant United States Attorney Amy Mitchell.

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