Jefferson County man sentenced for federal firearms violation

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur man has been sentenced to prison for a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

Christopher Dante Karo, 34, pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on March 11, 2025.

According to information presented in court, on April 3, 2024, Karo was observed during a drug transaction in Port Arthur by law enforcement.  After driving away from the scene with two minor passengers, Karo was stopped for speeding.  During the stop, Karo did not have a driver’s license and was asked to step out of the vehicle and stand in front of the patrol car. Officers observed a bottle containing what appeared to be PCP under their patrol car where Karo was standing, and determined from video evidence that Karo had dropped the bottle during the traffic stop and kicked it under the patrol car.  A search of Karo’s vehicle revealed a pistol under the driver’s seat.  The firearm had an extended magazine with 17 rounds of ammunition and had previously been reported stolen out of Port Arthur.

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.

This case was investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn.

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