MISSOULA — According to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, a Bozeman felon was convicted by a federal jury on Monday of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition after a Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputy discovered the defendant armed while serving an arrest warrant.
Following a one-day trial on July 15, the defendant, Perry Edward Carson, 46, was found guilty of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Carson could face up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the trial, and sentencing is scheduled for December 5. Carson is currently detained pending further proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich stated, “Felons unlawfully possessing firearms, like Carson did, pose a threat to public safety. In this instance, Carson’s actions endangered a law enforcement officer who was attempting to serve an arrest warrant. Preventing prohibited individuals from accessing guns is paramount in reducing overall gun violence. I appreciate the efforts of our prosecution team, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in handling this case.”
Court documents and trial testimony revealed that on March 15, a Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputy went to Carson’s camper to execute an arrest warrant. Carson informed the deputy that he would put down his gun out of respect and asked the deputy to do the same. Carson then entered the camper, went out of view, and returned to the open door. Despite multiple directives from the deputy to stay away from the firearm and exit the camper, Carson refused. Ultimately, Carson was tased and taken into custody. A search of the camper led to the discovery of a 9mm pistol with a magazine and ammunition. Carson had previously been convicted of a felony drug offense in Pennsylvania and sentenced in 1999.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution, with support from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, who conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department recently launched a violent crime reduction strategy as part of PSN, emphasizing trust-building in communities, supporting violence prevention initiatives, establishing focused enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
