Press Release
Contact:
MICHAEL L. SCHIPPER
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2404
PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDANT GETS 15 YEARS
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2008 - GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Michael Danotus Young, 34, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Charles R. Gross announced this afternoon. In addition, Young, will serve 5 years on supervised release and perform 300 hours of community service following his release from prison.
Young earlier pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a 9mm handgun, based on an incident that took place on December 15, 2006, when Grand Rapids police found him in possession of the firearm while sitting in a vehicle outside Julian’s Bar. At the time, Young had several prior felony convictions and thus was prohibited by state and federal law from possessing firearms. Because of his criminal history, which included several drug-related felonies, Young was subject to a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison upon his most recent conviction.
Young was prosecuted under the auspices of Project Safe Neighborhood, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement authorities that focuses on obtaining significant sentences for gun-related offenses by persons with a history of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Gross commended the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Grand Rapids Police Department for their work in the case. This case was prosecuted on behalf of the United States of America by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Schipper.
END
This
web page last updated on:
March 10, 2008