A Joliet man with a criminal past has found himself back behind bars after a federal judge sentenced him to over two years in prison for gun possession. Gary McDonald, 50, was caught with a loaded gun on October 8, 2023, violating the strict conditions of his court-supervised release from an earlier drug conviction sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
McDonald, who was not to legally possess any firearms, was busted sitting in his vehicle in the 1000 block of Sherman Street in Joliet with the weapon. His supervised release, a stringent oversight that was to last until 2025, explicitly forbade him to not only hold a weapon but also to steer clear from committing any additional crimes. His inability to adhere to these provisions has now extended his stay in federal accommodations.
U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey revoked McDonald’s supervised release after a recent November 30 hearing. In a striking move for justice and safety, the judge imposed an additional two years and three months in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty N. Wright represented the government at the hearing, with the Joliet Police Department and the FBI providing crucial backing in the case. "Violating supervised release by possessing a loaded firearm is a serious offense that carries with it serious consequences," Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Morris Pasqual stated.
The case underscores ongoing efforts by federal and local law enforcement agencies to rigorously enforce the rule of law, particularly when it relates to repeat offenders and firearm regulation. These partnerships aim to maintain public safety and reaffirm the consequences of flouting court-ordered mandates.
