Department of Justice

OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, DAVID EARL CARPENTER, JR., 40, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve ten years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

On September 16, 2020, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment against Carpenter, charging him with illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.  According to the Indictment, on June 20, 2020, Carpenter illegally possessed a 9mm caliber pistol.  Prior to being found in possession of the firearm, Carpenter had been convicted of numerous felony convictions.  Federal law prohibits prior convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Yesterday, Carpenter was sentenced to ten years in prison followed by three years’ supervised release.  At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick noted Carpenter’s lengthy criminal history and instances of physical violence against women, including choking.  

This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted the case.

This case is part of "Operation 922," the Western District’s local implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s initiatives to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  "Operation 922" prioritizes firearms prosecutions connected to domestic violence, including domestic violence abusers who possess a firearm and are subject to a victim protective order or have been previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Reference is made to court filings for further information.

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