Convicted Felon Receives 55 Month Sentence for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Memphis, TN – Christopher Holmes, 31, has been sentenced to 55 months for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on February 6, 2018, around noon, Memphis police saw a silver Infiniti I30 west bound on Chelsea Avenue with very dark tinted windows that appeared to be beyond the legal limit. As officers executed a traffic stop, Holmes exited the vehicle and attempted to run from officers. He was apprehended a short distance later and struggled with officers while being handcuffed. Law enforcement located on his person a prescription bottle prescribed for someone else containing 43 alprazolam pills.

While searching the vehicle, law enforcement located a loaded Browning 9mm pistol in the front driver’s seat. Holmes has a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault, and a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.

On October 10, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Holmes to 55 months in federal prison followed by 2 years supervised release.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Holmes was a violent offender who continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history. There is and ought to be a significant consequence for such recidivist criminal behavior, and this is one more gun-toter that will be removed from our streets."

The Memphis Police Department investigated this case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.

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