Security News: 23-Year-Old Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Firearm

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Memphis, TN – Austin Martin, 23 has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession 
of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, on May 4, 2019, a Memphis Police officer saw a 
vehicle doing donuts at the intersection of Knight Arnold and South Mendenhall. The driver then 
drove towards the officer’s vehicle and crashed into a fire hydrant.  Five males bailed out of the 
vehicle, Martin got out of the driver’s door wearing a bright yellow vest and pointed a handgun at 
the uniformed Memphis Police Officer.  The officer drew his weapon but did not fire because there 
was a bystander in the background. Martin fled and was apprehended minutes later with the gun still 
in his pocket.

On May  2, 2019,  Martin  robbed and shot two  men in Midtown.   Later that same day, Memphis 
Police  Investigators later matched Martin’s gun to those two shootings. Both victims survived and 
identified Martin as their shooter.

Martin also pled guilty in state court to especially aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and  
an  unrelated  aggravated arson.  As  a  result  of  his  prior  convictions,  Martin  is 
prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.

On June 17, 2022, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Martin to 10 years’ 
incarceration to be followed by three years’ supervised release.

This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. The (PSN) initiative   
is   a   program   bringing   together  all   levels  of   law   enforcement  and   the communities 
they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was 
reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on
targeting violent criminals, directing all  U.S. Attorney’s  Offices to  work  in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop
effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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