James T. Jacks
Acting United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

MULTI-CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON
ON FIREARM AND METHAMPHETAMINE CONVICTIONS

DALLAS — Larry Edward Petersen, 50, of Dallas, was sentenced today to a total of 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced James T. Jacks, acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Lindsay found that the crime of evading arrest qualifies as a crime of violence for career offender purposes. Petersen was convicted at trial in April 2008.

On October 11, 2007, officers with the Midlothian Police Department stopped Petersen regarding a felony complaint and at that time, Petersen had more than $5000 in cash, and a small amount of methamphetamine, in his possession. An officer searching the area immediately surrounding the truck Petersen was driving found a dark-colored, pipe-shaped object containing a white crystalline substance, which appeared to be methamphetamine, lying in a ditch. Petersen admitted to law enforcement that it was his and that he had told his passenger to throw it out of the window prior to being stopped by the police. The lab at the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that the substance contained approximately 83 grams of methamphetamine. Petersen claimed that he planned to travel to Arlington, Texas, and other cities in Texas to sell the drugs. A firearm, a Ruger, .357 Revolver, was also found close to where the traffic stop occurred.

Petersen is a multi-convicted felon, at both the state and federal level, with numerous convictions for methamphetamine-related offenses, felony evading arrest, and introducing heroin into a federal correctional institute.

The case was adopted for federal prosecution by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) through the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, a federal program designed for the quick and aggressive prosecution of firearm offenses. Acting U.S. Attorney Jacks praised the work of ATF and the Midlothian, Texas, Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks prosecuted the case.

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