DeAnthony Lyons, 21, of Muskegon, Michigan was sentenced to 90 months (seven and a half years) in federal prison for committing the offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Birge announced January 3, 2018.
In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker imposed a 3-year term of supervised release that will commence once Lyons is released from imprisonment. Lyons pled guilty on September 13, 2017, to illegally possessing a .40 caliber handgun during the summer of 2017. The handgun was stolen, had an obliterated serial number, and was loaded. Lyons was arrested on July 27, 2017, after he ran from police while carrying the weapon in his hand. Lyons had previously been convicted of three felonies.
In its sentencing memorandum, the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Lyons had a history of violence, including “two prior felonies for Assaulting, Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer Causing Injury.” The United States pointed out that given Lyons’ violent history, his “possession of a loaded firearm posed a significant risk to the community.” His decision to run from police with a pistol in his hand created a particularly volatile situation that “could have very easily led to the loss of life by the pursuing officers, innocent bystanders, or even the defendant himself.”
The United States argued that a significant sentence was needed to protect the Muskegon community and deter others from similar criminal activity. U.S. Attorney Birge stated: “My Office remains committed to combatting violence in the Muskegon area. The defendant’s sentence sends a clear message that gun violence will not be tolerated, and felons who choose to possess firearms will be severely punished.”
The charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Michigan State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Lewis prosecuted. The U.S. Attorney's Office, the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office, and federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to combat violent crime in the Muskegon area.
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