Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Chuncey Jabron Martin, 36, of Lansing, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing hearing occurred before U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids Monday.

“Gun violence is an epidemic in Michigan and across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to address gun violence and hold accountable those who inflict immense trauma on our communities. As we did here, we will also continue to identify opportunities to prosecute gun offenders with a record of domestic and intimate-partner violence.”

Martin was arrested by the Lansing Police Department when a woman called 911 to report that she was being assaulted. After the phone became disconnected, police went to the scene and found an injured woman and Martin. Martin ran into a nearby apartment building and was eventually arrested. He had the woman’s gun in his possession, which was a violation of federal law because he had many prior felony convictions on his record. Because of Martin’s long violent record, he was referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for federal prosecution.

On Aug. 30, 2023, Martin was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he pled guilty to the offense on Oct. 24, 2023. At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested a lengthy jail term because of Marin’s 29 prior convictions and juvenile adjudications, which began in 2000. The government pointed out that these included violent felonies, like violence against women and were becoming more serious as time went on. The court agreed that in Martin’s case, the safety of the public was the most important concern.

“All people deserve to feel safe in their relationships. Martin’s repeated use of firearms to commit domestic violence is unacceptable,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “ATF and our law enforcement partners remain resolute in holding violent offenders who threaten the safety of their family and our community accountable.”

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Individuals with information or concerns about violent crime or firearms offenses should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psn.

This case was investigated by the Lansing Police Department and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey prosecuted the case.

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