Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

LITTLE ROCK-Demarius Chamon Johnson, a felon who possessed a firearm located next to a three-year old child, will spend the next 17 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the 204-month sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.

A federal grand jury indicted Johnson, 35, of Jacksonville, in a superseding indictment on May 3, 2023. On January 24, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On September 17, 2021, officers with the North Little Rock Police Department located a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of El Dorado parked at the Fairview Inn in North Little Rock. The hotel's surveillance footage showed that an individual had parked the stolen vehicle and entered one of the rooms on the second floor. Officers went to the room, noted the door was open, and saw Johnson by the doorway. When officers entered the room, they noticed a firearm next to a three-year old child who was lying on one of the beds. Johnson was initially detained in relation to the stolen car. While being placed in handcuffs, Johnson stated, "that gun's mine, it belongs to me." The Colt Commander, .45 caliber pistol that was located on the bed had one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Little Rock.

Johnson has at least three prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense and is therefore classified as an armed career criminal. His criminal history includes residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, and felony drug possession and distribution.

Judge Miller also sentenced Johnson to three years' supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Jegley.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/edar

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