15 gun cases filed in southern Utah in first 3 months of 2017

A total of 15 federal gun cases were filed in southern Utah during the first three months of 2017.

According to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office, prosecutors in St. George have been working tirelessly to crack down on felons illegally possessing firearms.

“Federal firearms laws are a valuable tool to we use to reduce violent crime and protect Utah communities. The majority of defendants in these cases have previous felony convictions and many are charged with possession of drugs or violations of other federal laws in addition to the firearms count,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said Monday. “We recognize and appreciate the diligent work of local law enforcement officers and task forces, federal agents, and other partners in preparing these cases for prosecution.”

In one of the cases highlighted in the news release, 38-year-old Henry Woods of Tennessee was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit currency.

After an officer stopped Woods for traffic violations, Woods allegedly gave the officer a fake driver’s license and then sped away while the officer was checking the license. Woods drove off the road and then fled on foot.

One of the other passengers in the vehicle informed the officer that Woods had a gun in the car. Officers then searched the vehicle and found a Sig Sauer P938 9mm pistol, which had been reported stolen in Memphis, Tennessee.

Woods, who was caught and arrested, was on federal supervised release after serving 10-years for another firearms violation. He pleaded guilty to the new firearms charge on Mar. 27 and will be sentenced in August.