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BEAUMONT — An Orange convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Terryence John Nelson, 40, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Sept. 12.

According to information presented in court, on Oct. 29, 2023, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the Orange Boat Ramp in reference to a large disturbance with shots fired. Upon arrival, officers could see a large crowd with numerous vehicles in the boat ramp parking lot.

As officers approached the scene, they heard several gunshots and observed muzzle flashes. Witnesses identified a dark green Lincoln Continental town car and told police that some of the occupants were involved in the shooting. Police identified the driver of the car as Nelson. Further investigation revealed Nelson had an active warrant for his arrest and he was detained.

During the arrest, Nelson was found to have a semi-automatic pistol in his pants pocket. The firearm had previously been reported stolen out of Orange County, Texas, and it had an extended magazine loaded with approximately 19 rounds of ammunition.

Nelson reportedly admitted to officers that he carried the firearm everywhere he went for protection. He told officers that he knew it was wrong because he was a convicted felon.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.

Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Orange Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.