The Sconi

Demetrius Howard, a 34-year-old resident of Menomonie, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson, who also ordered that Howard serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Howard pleaded guilty to the charge on June 24, 2025.

The incident leading to the charges occurred on December 20, 2024, when a Dunn County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Howard's vehicle for speeding. During the stop and subsequent investigation, officers searched the car and discovered a bag in the backseat containing a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun. According to law enforcement, Howard initially claimed he found the gun by a dumpster and intended to dispose of it in water. He also told the deputy that he might have attempted to flee if his child had not been present in the car and commented about the possibility of a “shootout.”

Howard has a previous conviction at the state level for party to the crime of armed robbery, which legally bars him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

At sentencing, Judge Peterson expressed skepticism about Howard's initial explanation regarding how he obtained the firearm. "Howard then admitted that was not true and that he actively sought out the gun due to threats he was receiving," according to court records. Judge Peterson emphasized that Howard was prohibited from having firearms and noted that committing this offense while under supervision made it more serious.

The case was investigated by both the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and members of the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The task force consists of federal agents from ATF alongside state and local officers throughout Wisconsin’s Western District. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted the case.

This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime across communities nationwide. The operation coordinates resources from programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).