Felon Sentenced for Unlawful Firearm Possession

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Christopher Evans, 33, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced December 21, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Evans to 24 months of imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  After Evans’ release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On January 29, 2022, Omaha police officers observed a vehicle fail to signal its turn.  Officers conducted a traffic stop and upon contact with the vehicle observed an open container of alcohol in Evans’ lap and another open container in the center console. Co-defendant Bath Kuol was seated in the front passenger seat and Evans was the driver.  During a search of the vehicle, officers located a Glock 19x 9mm handgun with a loaded 33 round magazine inside of the center console. 

Evans admitted to law enforcement that he knew the firearm was in the vehicle and admitted to handling it.  Prior to January 29, 2022, Evans had been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance. 

Bath Kuol was sentenced on February 17, 2023, to 63 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee.

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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.