Little Rock Man Returns to Federal Prison for Fourth Time to Serve a 10-Year Sentence for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms

LITTLE ROCK-Tyjuan Townsend, a multi-convicted felon who has previously served time in federal prison three separate times, was sentenced to serve 120 months' incarceration for being a felon in possession of multiple firearms. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Thursday, September 3, 2026, by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.

On August 3, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Townsend, 47, of Little Rock, in a five-count Indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On April 28, 2026, Townsend pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and received the 10-year sentence in federal prison, which included enhancements for the drug possession. In addition, Judge Miller also sentenced Townsend to three years' supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

In late 2022, Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) detectives learned from multiple sources that Townsend was selling pound-levels of methamphetamine and carried firearms. On July 27, 2023, officers with LRPD conducted a controlled buy of methamphetamine from Townsend using a confidential informant. Officers then obtained a search warrant for Townsend's residence.

Upon execution of the search warrant, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and LRPD officers located four firearms in Townsend's bedroom, including a Glock .40 caliber firearm, a HI-Point 9mm firearm with a defaced serial number, a Ruger .40 caliber firearm, and a Smith & Wesson, 9mm firearm. During a search of the kitchen, agents and officers located approximately 219 grams of methamphetamine, 89 grams of fentanyl, and 228 grams of cocaine.

Townsend's criminal history includes a 2009 federal conviction out of the Eastern District of Arkansas for cocaine possession after multiple drug felonies. His second Eastern District of Arkansas federal conviction was for conspiracy to tamper with a witness. Townsend also has three separate felony convictions for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, a felony conviction for possession of cocaine, two misdemeanor convictions for third-degree domestic battery, and a felony conviction for criminal attempt-furnishing, possessing, or using prohibited articles during his incarceration at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. Townsend's third federal conviction originated out of the Eastern District of Texas for being an inmate in possession of a prohibited object - weapon or knife.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

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