A convicted felon from Vidor has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas. Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. announced that Dennis Lee Kelley, 32, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and received a sentence of 46 months in federal prison. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on February 7, 2025.
Court documents revealed that Kelley was arrested on July 27, 2023, near Highway 105 in Beaumont due to an active warrant for a parole violation. During his arrest, law enforcement discovered a pistol in the vehicle he was driving. As a convicted felon, Kelley is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
The case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which is part of the Department of Justice's efforts to reduce violent crime. PSN is known for its evidence-based approach to effectively lower violent crime rates by involving various stakeholders who work together to identify and address pressing violent crime issues within communities. The program focuses on enforcing laws against the most violent offenders while collaborating with local prevention and reentry programs.
The investigation into Kelley's case was conducted by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James led the prosecution.