Phoenix Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

MISSOULA – Clarence Edward Henderson, a 50-year-old former resident of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to felon in possession of firearms in August 2007.  Henderson did not appear at his sentencing hearing set in May 2009 and was arrested in North Carolina in November of last year.  U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy handed down the sentence. 

In late December 2005, Henderson and two other men were sent by their employer to a Gallatin County residence to take a woman back to Phoenix, Arizona, after the Christmas holiday.  She agreed to return to Arizona so her family would not be harmed.  The three men wore “Special Agent” badges.  Law enforcement seized two pistols, magazines, ammunition, a set of handcuffs, and a knuckle knife.  Henderson said he handled the firearms during the drive between Arizona and Montana and his employer, provided the firearms for his use.  Henderson was arrested for impersonating a police officer and possession of a firearm by a felon.  Henderson’s prior felony convictions include robbery in Ohio and aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine, attempted transportation of methamphetamine for sale, and forgery from Arizona. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart and investigated by the Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana.  A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime.  Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.