ORANGE COUNTY MAN GETS 27 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PEN FOR FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

 

(Beaumont, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 48-year-old Orange County man has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for firearms violations in the in the Eastern District of Texas. MICHAEL RAY HARRISON was sentenced today by United States District Judge Marcia Crone.

U.S. Attorney Orwig was pleased with the sentence, “This defendant has been given every opportunity to learn from his mistakes. This is a serious sentence for a serious violation.”

According to information presented in court, a residential burglary was reported in Lumberton on May 5, 2005 in which two handguns, several shotguns, and a high-powered rifle were stolen. Information obtained during the investigation caused authorities to actively locate Harrison in Orange County. Harrison led authorities on a high-speed chase, but was able to elude capture when the vehicle was abandoned in a wooded area off Highway 12. He was apprehended a week later at a residence in Nederland.

The defendant has three prior felony convictions, including bank robbery, aggravated assault, and aggravated assault on a peace officer. Based on the prior felony convictions, Harrison was determined to be an Armed Career Criminal under federal law, resulting in a sentencing range of from a mandatory minimum of 15 years to a maximum of life imprisonment.

Harrison was indicted on May 18, 2005 and charged being a felon in possession of a firearm. On December 1, 2005, Harrison was convicted by a jury after a day-and-a-half of trial. The case was prosecuted pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative of the United States Department of Justice.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the canine unit of the Beaumont Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rawls and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wannarka.