Memphis, TN – Tavious Richards, 30, has been sentenced to 123 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Tavious Richards had previously been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. While on release, Richards committed several violations, including unlawfully possessing yet another firearm.
On August 12, 2020, Memphis Police Officers identified Richards driving a black 2020 Chevrolet Camaro. Officers knew Richards had active arrest warrants. The Airways Task Force was contacted and responded to the scene. Officers initiated a traffic stop at Airways and I-240 where Richards was captured. While removing him from the vehicle, a handgun was visible. Also found in the vehicle was a backpack containing marijuana, pills, and a bottle of promethazine. The firearm, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, had previously been reported stolen in 2018.
Richards had been previously convicted of aggravated assault, as well as other charges. As a result of his prior convictions, Richards is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On April 15, 2021, a Federal Grand Jury sitting in the Western District of Tennessee returned a one-count indictment against Richards for his August 12, 2020, gun possession charge. Richards entered a guilty plea to that indictment on June 16, 2021.
On October 8, 2021, U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Richards to 108 months in federal prison. His total sentence of 123 months incarceration will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On October 14, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Richards to 15 months incarceration for his supervised release violations, to be served consecutively to his sentence on his new indictment of 123 months in federal prison.
The Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force investigated this case. The 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 neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice 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.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers 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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