Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearms Possession

Memphis, TN – Joshua Whitfield, 30, has been sentenced to 103 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Acting United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on August 10, 2019, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to a 911 domestic violence call on Ridgestone Drive. The victim's daughter called 911 from her bedroom and told the operator that "Joshua" put his hands on her mother. When police arrived, the victim stated that her live-in boyfriend, Whitfield, became physical after a verbal dispute. The victim said the defendant struck and choked her and threatened to shoot her and her daughter. Officers observed visible bruises on the victim. Whitfield was placed in custody and a loaded Black Glock pistol with a 17-round magazine was recovered from the scene. The gun had one live round in the chamber and 10 live rounds in the magazine. Officers also found a 50 round magazine drum with an unknown number of live rounds in it. Further investigation revealed the gun was stolen.

While out on bond, Whitfield, was again arrested in possession of a firearm. On December 12, 2019, officers with the Memphis Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a White Chevrolet Malibu on Tillman Street and Princeton Avenue. The driver of the Malibu, later identified as Joshua Whitfield, sped off at a high rate of speed. Officers pursued the vehicle for several city blocks until it stopped, and Whitfield jumped out of the car carrying a blue backpack. Officers gave chase and caught Whitfield hiding in a shed. Inside of the blue backpack was a Glock .43 9mm pistol and a large plastic bag with 10 individually wrapped bags of suspected marijuana. Whitfield’s driver’s license had been revoked since 2014. Whitfield also had an active warrant for unlawful possession of a weapon.

On May 18, 2021, Whitfield pled guilty to committing both crimes. Whitfield had previously been convicted for domestic assault with bodily harm in 2014 and aggravated assault in 2015.

On October 19, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Whitfield to 103 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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