Convicted Felon Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison

In Midland today, a federal judge sentenced 33-year-old Odessa resident Christopher Caswell to 33 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon who pointed a rifle at and threatened a driver, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge David Counts ordered that Caswell be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

According to court documents, on August 29, 2020, Odessa Police officers responded to the 2700 block of Eisenhower Road in reference to a subject with a gun.  The victim reported to police that while stopped at an intersection, he saw the defendant and another individual arguing in front of a residence.  The defendant then approached the victim’s vehicle while pointing a rifle at the victim and telling him to mind his own business.  The victim drove off and contacted police.  Subsequently, officers confronted Caswell while he was walking southbound on Eisenhower Road holding a black rifle.  Caswell dropped the Hi-Point 9 mm rifle and evaded  officers on foot. 

On September 17, 2020, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force located Caswell and arrested him in Dallas.  He has since remained in federal custody.

On November 4, 2020, Caswell pleaded guilty to the felon-in-possession charge.  His criminal history reveals two prior state felony convictions in Odessa for evading arrest/detention.

The Odessa Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels prosecuted this case. 

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 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.

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