Jefferson County Felon Sentenced to Over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Jefferson County man was sentenced yesterday to 16 years and eight months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Tobacco, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

Timothy Lewis, 53, was found guilty by a federal jury on March 13 for being a felon in possession of firearm. He was sentenced yesterday to 16 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to evidence presented at trial, on June 25, 2018, Lewis illegally possessed a Smith & Wesson, Model M&P 40 PRO Series, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Lewis had previously been convicted of the following felonies.

On Jan. 31, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 16-CR-2203, Lewis was convicted of burglary in the third degree, receiving stolen property under $10,000, theft by unlawful taking over $500 and tampering with physical evidence.

On July 29, 2015, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 14-CR-1604, Lewis was convicted of complicity to burglary in the second degree.

On Sept. 7, 2012, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 12-CR-0775, Lewis was convicted of complicity to receiving stolen property under $10,000 and theft by unlawful taking (two counts).

On Oct. 19, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 06-CR-3183, Lewis was convicted of receiving goods by fraud, burglary in the second degree (three counts), theft by unlawful taking over $300 (twelve counts), theft by unlawful taking over $300 – auto (two counts), receiving stolen property over $300 (three counts), receiving stolen property over $300 - vehicle, criminal possession of forged instrument in the second degree, fraudulent use of a credit card (three counts), tampering with physical evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The case was investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Julie Mason.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

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