Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Morristown Man Sentenced to 210 Months Imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On April 7, 2023, Robert Lee Allen, Jr., also known as “Skeeter,” 55 of Morristown, Tennessee, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Allen agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3). Upon release from his imprisonment, Allen will be on supervised release for 5 years.
As set forth in the plea agreement filed with the court, Allen has prior, violent felony convictions for Second Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Burglary. Allen agreed that, on February 14, 2022, he struck his spouse with a firearm and was arrested the next day for domestic assault. During a search of his vehicle, the firearm he used to assault his spouse was located. The firearm was stolen from Cocke County, TN. Allen admitted that he had acquired the firearm from another felon through a trade of methamphetamine and heroin in exchange for the firearm.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“This sentence sends a powerful message to those with a violent, felony history who continue to arm themselves,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “This case is part of the Department of Justice’s comprehensive strategy to target and prosecute the most serious offenders who pose the greatest threats to safety and peace within the community.”
“This was extremely great work done by the individuals that took part in this investigation. There is one less criminal off our streets. The ATF will continue to use all of our resources to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence within our community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Todd Martin represented the United States.
This case also was 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.