A federal judge in Memphis has sentenced a local man, Charlie Gibson, to over 17 years in federal prison for multiple offenses, including illegal firearm possession and drug trafficking. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz.
In December 2021, security guards at a Memphis apartment complex detained Gibson for loitering. Upon searching his belongings, the guards discovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol, approximately 250 grams of marijuana, and three digital scales. The Memphis Police Department was called, and Gibson was subsequently arrested.
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In a separate incident in July 2022, Shelby County deputies responded to an assault call in Cordova, Tennessee. The suspect, identified as Gibson, was driving a gray Nissan. When deputies located the vehicle, Gibson attempted to flee, striking a deputy in the process. The deputy fired several rounds through the windshield, injuring Gibson. A Glock .40 caliber pistol was later found on the driver’s side floorboard of Gibson’s vehicle.
Charges from both incidents were combined into a superseding indictment in November 2023. Following a two-day trial in February 2024, Gibson was found guilty of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, one count of marijuana possession with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
On June 11, 2024, United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Gibson to 210 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. It is important to note that there is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The case was investigated by the PSN Gun Task Force, Memphis Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz extended his gratitude to Assistant United States Attorneys Jermal Blanchard and Greg Wagner, who prosecuted the case, as well as the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
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