A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, has indicted a local man on charges of illegal firearm possession. The indictment was announced on February 4, 2025, by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The accused, Emmett Morris, aged 28, faces charges for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon on July 29, 2024. Morris's prior convictions include several felonies that legally prohibit him from owning firearms.
Morris's criminal record includes a conviction on January 14, 2022, in Jefferson Circuit Court for trafficking opiates and methamphetamine and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Additionally, he was convicted on January 21, 2016, for facilitation to murder and other offenses including receiving a stolen firearm and multiple counts of robbery.
Morris appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on February 6, 2025. He remains in federal custody pending trial and could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider various guidelines and statutory factors.
The investigation is being conducted by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter is handling prosecution duties.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations. Launched with enhanced strategies on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on building trust within communities while prioritizing strategic enforcement efforts.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.