GALVESTON – A 63-year-old Blessing resident has been ordered to prison following his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Michael Gene Richardson pleaded guilty Oct. 13, 2021.
Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffery V. Brown ordered Richardson to serve 90 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court noted the large amount of firearms Richardson possessed.
Richardson is a convicted felon and was arrested in 2018 following a drug investigation. Following a search of his residence, authorities found more than 50 firearms, ammunition and suspected improvised bombs.
As a convicted felon, he is prohibited per federal law of possessing firearms or ammunition. As such, he was charged again in 2019. Prior to trial and while on bond, law enforcement found in possession of an additional firearm and ammunition.
The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Matagorda County Sherriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schammel and Richard Bennett prosecuted the case.