Louisville Felon Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Possession Of A Firearm, Ammunition, And Methamphetamine

Federal Prosecution resulted from “Project Recoil”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman today announced the sentencing of a Louisville felon, in United States District Court, by Chief Judge Joseph H. McKinley Jr., to 120 months in prison, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.

Robert J. Vance, 29, was charged in a superseding indictment on May 2, 2017, and pleaded guilty to all three counts on June 23, 2017. The federal prosecution stemmed from “Project Recoil,” the on-going partnership of multiple Jefferson County, Kentucky law enforcement agencies to maximize penalties for the most violent offenders and to reduce violent crime in our community.

 According to information presented in court, Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) officers were patrolling “hot spots” in high crime areas of Portland, located in west Louisville. Near midnight on December 17, 2017, the officers pulled into the intersection of 29^th and Alford Streets and observed a gold van at one corner of the intersection with the passenger side door open, and defendant Vance was standing at the driver’s side door. When officers initiated their lights, Vance ran and tripped in an alley. A bag containing over 50 grams of pure meth was found several feet from where Vance landed, along with a liquor bag containing a Glock, Model 21, 45 caliber pistol. The officers located a shoulder holster in the Toyota SUV which contained an extra clip of ammunition for a .45 caliber Glock.

Vance was previously convicted of a Class D Felony on February 11, 2013, in Bullitt County Circuit Court, Shepherdsville, KY, in Case Number 12-CR-0073, of Assault Under Extreme Emotional Disturbance.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ream and was investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).