Tristian Gerrell-Robert Murphy, a 36-year-old resident of Detroit, Michigan, has been sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison. This will be followed by three years of supervised release for the federal offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents reveal that on June 10, 2024, law enforcement officers stopped Murphy's vehicle in St. Albans. During the stop, Murphy admitted to having a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380-caliber pistol under the driver’s seat and a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol in the trunk. A Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm pistol was also found in the glove box. Murphy acknowledged he had recently purchased these firearms.
Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Murphy was aware of this restriction due to his previous conviction for conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery in the Eastern District of Michigan on October 21, 2021. In that case, he was involved in a crime conspiracy responsible for numerous "smash and grab" robberies at jewelry stores across the United States. Specifically, he participated in robbing a jewelry store in Jacksonville, Florida, where an employee was assaulted during the incident.
At the time of his recent offense, Murphy was serving supervised release from his prior conviction.
United States Attorney Will Thompson praised the investigative efforts of the St. Albans Police Department and assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger with Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuting.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence through community collaboration and strategic enforcement priorities.
Further details are available through related court documents on PACER under Case No. 2:24-cr-101.