Fresno Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years for Possessing Ammunition After Firing an AR-15 Style Rifle from a Moving Vehicle in a Residential Neighborhood

FRESNO, Calif. —Timothy Scott Chenot, 34, of Fresno, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to seven years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, Chenot drove around a residential neighborhood in Southeast Fresno late at night on August 2, 2024. As he drove, he fired an AR-15 .223 caliber rifle out his truck’s window. Chenot unloaded several rounds into unoccupied cars parked on the side of the road before discarding his firearm on the street and driving away. Responding officers, however, pulled Chenot over and arrested him. They found several empty shells, ammunition, and open alcoholic containers in the truck. Police also found and seized the firearm and several spent shells at the scene of the shooting.

.223 Caliber AR-15 Chenot Fired Out of His Moving Vehicle

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community‑based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Learn more at Justice.gov/PSN.