An Angelina County man, previously convicted of a felony, is now facing a potential 15-year stint in federal prison for charges related to firearms possession. Preston Allen, 58, pleaded guilty to the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney's Office.
The charge came after a search warrant led to Allen's arrest on February 3, 2025, upon which deputies discovered him with an AR-15 style rifle outside his Lufkin residence. In a statement announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs, Allen was ordered to disarm and was subsequently detained. It was determined that Allen is prohibited from owning firearms due to his criminal record.
Following his April 2 indictment by a federal grand jury, Allen entered a guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson yesterday. While the federal system advises up to 15 years for such an offense, the actual sentence will be determined post-consideration of sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office is still pending and will precede the scheduling of a sentencing hearing.
This case is a fragment of the broader Operation Take Back America, which dedicates Justice Department resources toward tackling illegal immigration, disarming cartels and TCOs, and upholding public safety. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter helming the prosecution.
