A Lansing man was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms, as part of the Safe Summer 2024 initiative to curb gun violence. Mychal Marcell Borney, aged 22, was charged under this program, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office has committed to aggressively prosecute gun offenders who are found with crime guns, described as firearms previously used in the commission of a crime.
In a move designed to directly counter the specter of gun violence, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten, has taken a zero-tolerance stance. "No matter your zip code, everyone deserves the right to live free from the threat of gun violence," Totten said, per the U.S. Department of Justice. Borney's arrest came after Lansing police responded to a call of gunshots and found Borney with a loaded gun equipped with an extended magazine. Evidence linked the weapon to nearby spent casings.
Prior convictions for illegal drug possession and home invasion labeled Borney a habitual offender. "Mychal Borney has proven time and time again that he is unable to make sound decisions without jeopardizing public safety," ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir once said, as per the U.S. Department of Justice. This case underscores the hard-line law enforcement is willing to walk, asserting that the use of an illegal firearm will result in serious prison time.
