A Union City man, Michael Eaton, has been sentenced to 105 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
The incident leading to Eaton's arrest occurred on February 11, 2023. An officer from the Union City Police Department stopped a silver Ford SUV near Todd Street due to a window tint violation. During the stop, Eaton, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was found with a loaded Charter Arms .38 special caliber revolver after a confrontation with law enforcement officers.
Eaton has previous felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms. In 2000, he received a ten-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance with intent to resell it. He was also sentenced to eight years in 2010 for attempting an armed robbery at a grocery store in Union City.
In January 2024, Eaton faced indictment in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty in August 2024. United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson handed down his sentence on December 30, 2024. Following his prison term, Eaton will have three years of supervised release; there is no parole available in the federal system.
This case falls under the Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. This initiative emphasizes building trust within communities and supporting organizations that work to prevent violence.
The investigation was conducted by the Union City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren expressed gratitude towards Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco for prosecuting this case and acknowledged the efforts of all involved law enforcement partners.
For further information regarding this case or other updates from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, contact their Media Relations Team or follow them on social media platforms like Facebook or X at @WDTNNews.