United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR FIREARMS CONVICTION

DALLAS — Richard Ray Harrimon, 41, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 96 months (8 years) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Harrimon pled guilty in January 2008 to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On February 6, 2007, Harrimon pawned a Mossberg, .22 caliber rifle at City Jewelry & Loan, located in Wichita Falls, Texas. Harrimon admitted to possessing and pawning this firearm.

On March 30, 2007, an officer with the Wichita Falls Police Department observed Harrimon driving a 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck. The officer searched the vehicle and located the following firearms inside: a Winchester, .22 caliber rifle, a Savage, 30-60 caliber rifle, a Marlin, .22 caliber rifle, and a High Standard, .22 caliber revolver, all of which belonged to Harrimon. Harrimon had previously been convicted in state court for burglary of a building, burglary of a habitation, and evading arrest.

The case was presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a collaborative effort by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to aggressively prosecute firearm-related offenses by building on the effective strategies and partnerships developed under Project Safe Neighborhoods.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Wichita Falls Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay.

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