Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

MADISON, WIS. — Timothy M. O’Shea, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Calvin Henderson, 46, of Fitchburg, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. Henderson pleaded guilty to this charge on Oct. 19, 2023.

On Jan. 26, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Henderson’s apartment in Fitchburg and recovered three handguns, along with drug packaging. Henderson admitted that one of the handguns was his. He also admitted that he flushed cocaine down the toilet just before law enforcement entered the apartment. Henderson cannot legally possess firearms because he has prior felony convictions for offenses including substantial battery and possessing a firearm as a felon.

In selecting a four-year sentence, Judge Conley noted Henderson’s lengthy and violent criminal history beginning when he was 18 years old. When Henderson was 27 years old, he pistol-whipped another person in what Judge Conley described as a horrific beating. Finally, Judge Conley pointed to the danger associated with Henderson’s possessing firearms while dealing drugs.

The charge against Henderson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

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