Philadelphia Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Nafiysh Knox-Schenck, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Joel H. Slomsky to 39 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon, a charge arising from an incident last year in which the defendant resisted arrest by officers of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD).

Knox-Schenck was charged by indictment in June and pleaded guilty in November.

As detailed in court filings, on May 13, 2024, two PPD officers attempted to place the defendant into custody based on an outstanding arrest warrant. While struggling with the officers, Knox-Schenck pulled a loaded firearm from his waistband and tossed it into the street. Another person then took the firearm and tossed it into a nearby wooded lot. After a struggle, the officers were able to get Knox-Schenck handcuffed and placed him in their vehicle.

While the officers went to retrieve the firearm and their body worn camera that had fallen off during the struggle, someone opened the door to the police vehicle and Knox-Schenck was able to flee on foot and escape police custody. Philadelphia police officers then obtained another arrest warrant for the defendant and, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, were able to arrest Knox-Schenck on May 15.

“Knox-Schenck knew he wasn’t allowed to have a gun, given his criminal record, but he didn’t let that stop him,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “We and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable felons who have decided that federal gun laws don’t apply to them. Every illegal firearm taken off the street makes the community safer.”

“ATF is committed to working with our partners to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals like Nafiysh Knox-Schenck who endanger our neighborhoods,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals is a key means to preventing violent crime.”

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.

The case was investigated by the ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney Tracie J. Gaydos, on assignment from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.