Convicted Felon Sentenced to 46Months in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm

Memphis, TN – Robert Darnell, 63, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on April 4, 2017, Memphis Police Officers responded to an aggravated assault call at a rooming house at 967 Randle Street. The officers found the victim, Hosea Bland, bleeding from two gunshot wounds. The victim stated "Robert shot me." Bland was transported to Regional One Health for treatment. Police officers recovered several .45 caliber shell casings. It appeared the defendant and the victim had both been drinking and an argument precipitated the shooting.

The officers located Darnell in the lower bunk bed of an adjacent room, as well as two handguns, a .45 caliber Hi-Point pistol and a .40 caliber Hi-Point pistol. While Darnell did not have any recent felony convictions, he was a convicted felon with prior convictions in the State of Mississippi for burglary in 1975, aggravated assault in 1977, and larceny in 1984.

On October 31, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Darnell to 46 months in federal prison followed by 2 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The Memphis Police Department investigated this case.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Darnell was a violent offender who possessed and violently discharged a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history. There is a consequence for such criminal behavior, and we will aggressively enforce federal law to protect victims and uphold the rule of law."

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.