Convicted Felon Sentenced to 108 Months for Illegally Possessing Firearm Crime in Perry County

LONDON, Ky. — Willie Combs has been sentenced to 108 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, for illegally possessing a firearm following his prior felony convictions. 

Combs pleaded guilty to the firearms charges in May of 2018.  During his guilty plea, Combs admitted that on May 22, 2017, he brandished a firearm to another individual during an argument.  The firearm was a loaded SKS 7.62x39 caliber rifle.  Combs was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm, based on three prior felony convictions, including a federal conviction for possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. 

Under federal law, Combs must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release, Combs will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Stuart Lowrey, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge for the Louisville Field Division; and Richard Sanders, Kentucky State Police Commissioner, jointly made the announcement.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Parman.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.