Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition

MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nathaniel Larson, 26, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 4 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. Larson pleaded guilty to this charge on February 8, 2024.

On July 11, 2023, an Eau Claire police officer stopped a car Larson was driving for a traffic violation. Larson's behavior during the stop was suspicious, so the officer asked him to exit the car. Larson then consented to a search and the officer found a small bag of heroin and fentanyl in his pants pocket. Larson was arrested and during a subsequent search of the car, the officer found a loaded Taurus 9 mm handgun and an extra loaded magazine. Larson is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for second degree recklessly endangering safety.

At the sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that Larson's behavior has been out of control and that a long sentence was necessary to protect the community. Larson was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his prison term.

The charge against Larson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department, West Central Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department's program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.