Armed Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison
MADISON, Wis. — Timothy M. O’Shea, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Robert A. Goldsberry, 29, of Madison, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to six years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Goldsberry pleaded guilty to this charge on Oct. 19, 2023.
On Nov. 3, 2022, Dane County Sheriff’s deputies stopped Goldsberry for speeding on Highway 51 in Madison. When deputies approached the car, they smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside and observed Goldsberry - who was the lone occupant - placing his hand on the gear shift multiple times. After deputies asked Goldsberry to step out of the car, he sped away, running multiple red lights and nearly hitting two other vehicles before crashing his car into a traffic signpost. After the crash, Goldsberry jumped out of the car and ran from deputies. He was later arrested and had $3,000 in his pockets.
In Goldsberry’s car, deputies recovered a loaded firearm, 54 bags of marijuana and 156 oxycodone pills. Goldsberry has prior felony convictions for armed robbery, substantial battery and drug dealing.
At sentencing, Judge Conley stated Goldsberry has been in and out of jail and has supported himself by dealing drugs. Further, in selecting a six-year sentence, Judge Conley highlighted the need to hold Goldsberry accountable for his dangerous conduct and squandered opportunities under previous terms of state supervision.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
The charge against Goldsberry was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard prosecuted this case.
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