Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Madison Felon Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Corvalis Stewart, 33, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. Chief District Judge James D. Peterson to 2 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearm. This prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Stewart pleaded guilty to this charge on November 12, 2020.
On August 20, 2020, Dane County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Stewart in Madison. During the stop, marijuana was located in the vehicle. While the passenger was being detained, Stewart threw a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol out of the driver’s side window of the vehicle. A witness who saw Stewart throw the gun from the car notified law enforcement and deputies located the gun, which had a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber.
Stewart was prohibited from possessing a firearm based on multiple prior felony convictions. At the time of his arrest, Stewart was on state supervision for a previous conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Stewart’s criminal history dates back to 2005 and includes two prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, including a case where he shot a man in the leg. He also has a prior conviction for 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety for pointing a gun at two individuals and threatening to “blast them.”
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 involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
The charge against Stewart was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rita M. Rumbelow and Steven P. Anderson.