Madison Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Violating Terms of Federal Supervision (DOJ)

MADISON, WIS. - Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Francesco Anglin, 28, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on January 9, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 63 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and an additional 24 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his federal supervision for a previous federal firearm conviction. Anglin pleaded guilty to the felon in possession offense on October 24, 2025.

On March 15, 2025, a Maple Bluff police officer attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle fled and ultimately crashed in downtown Madison with the two occupants running from the scene. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9mm handgun. They also found Anglin's cell phone with a lock screen photo of him pointing a black firearm at the camera.

On April 24, 2025, a Madison police officer stopped Anglin's vehicle and located a loaded privately made firearm in the glovebox. Anglin had previously posted photos to his Facebook account showing him in possession of that privately made firearm.

Anglin was on federal supervised release at the time of these offenses, after serving 43 months for a prior felon in possession conviction. In that case, Anglin asked a female to purchase a handgun for him. At the time, he was already convicted of a felony offense and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. While on supervised release, for that offense, Anglin escaped from a prison facility, was charged, convicted, and sentenced to eight months in prison.

At sentencing the government argued that Anglin was a significant danger to the community and was not deterred by previous prison sentences. The government also noted the many images that Anglin posted on Facebook showing him in possession of firearms and making threatening comments.

At sentencing Judge Peterson found that Anglin had been a failure on supervised release and that he presented a significant danger to the community. Judge Peterson said that Anglin was resistant to intervention by federal probation officers who were tasked with helping him, and that carrying a gun presented an extreme risk to those officers. Judge Peterson noted that there was strong evidence that Anglin was always armed, and that he was intent on intimidating others and inciting violence by his social media posts. Judge Peterson concluded that Anglin needed to be removed from the community and sent a significant message that his gun crimes would not be tolerated.

The charge against Anglin was the result of an investigation conducted by the Maple Bluff and Madison Police Departments, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.

Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.