Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm
Memphis, TN – Reginald McFarland, 38, has pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the guilty plea today.
According to the information presented in court, on August 7, 2018, the Shelby County Shelby’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team (FAT) had an arrest warrant for McFarland, who was residing at the Villa Inn hotel in Memphis. Law enforcement verified that McFarland had a state arrest warrant for criminal attempt: murder first degree.
Upon entering the hotel room, officers observed McFarland standing in the bathroom and noticed a bullet in the toilet bowl. A gun was recovered from the toilet tank. Further investigation from Memphis Police revealed this gun was purchased by D.H., who had reported it stolen from him by McFarland on August 1, 2018. McFarland was previously convicted of a felony drug offense. The state prosecution against McFarland for attempted murder is still pending in the Shelby County Criminal Court.
Sentencing is set for November 4, 2020, before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris. If convicted, McFarland faces up to 10 years in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our PSN initiative, we focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing dangerous felons from our streets. This federal conviction will remove this gun-toter from the community while he awaits trial on violent state charges, and will make Memphis and West Tennessee a safer place."
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department; the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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