Paducah man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on gun charge

A Paducah man was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in federal prison plus five years of supervised release on a gun charge following previous felony convictions.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the ATF announced the conviction of 33-year-old Demario Terrell Daniels. The gun charge qualified Daniels as an Armed Career Criminal under federal law, having been convicted of at least three serious drug offenses or violent felonies.

Daniels has previous convictions for cocaine distribution in Illinois, as well as felony fleeing or evading police in McCracken County. Daniels also escaped from the McCracken County Regional Jail and was on the run for nearly a year. According to documents, Daniels had the gun on his person when he was booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail where it was found by the staff.

ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Maynard of the Louisville Field Division said, “Drug dealers with guns are criminals who pose an increased threat to the safety of our communities. (Tuesday’s) sentencing is another example of the ongoing efforts of ATF and our local partners with the McCracken County Regional Jail, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kentucky State Police working together to take a repeat offender off the streets and make our communities safer for everyone.”

A defendant that qualifies as an Armed Career Criminal faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison.