Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

INDIANAPOLIS- John E. Lamond II, 38, of Beech Grove, Indiana, has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on September 2, 2020, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers observed a vehicle, driven by Lamond, begin to travel in reverse upon seeing a fully marked police car. Lamond continued to drive recklessly in reverse in the middle of the road for two blocks. When officers activated their emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop, Lamond exited his vehicle and fled into a nearby home. After being instructed multiple times to stop running, Lamond was arrested by officers.

During a search of the vehicle, officers found a 9mm handgun between the driver’s and passenger’s seats belonging to Lamond. The vehicle was also determined to be stolen.

Lamond is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his six previous felony convictions including criminal confinement, carrying a handgun without a license, receiving stolen auto parts, criminal recklessness, strangulation, and possession of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, and Randal Taylor, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department made the announcement.

“This dangerous, convicted felon has no business owning a firearm, and in-fact, is prohibited from doing so by federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Myers “I commend the outstanding first responders who protected the public by arresting a dangerous criminal who through his actions has shown an utter disregard for the law. The serious sentence imposed today will protect the public from further crimes by Mr. Lamond and demonstrates that our office will work closely with our local and federal partners to make our communities safer.”

ATF and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Lamond be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 2 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.

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 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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