Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Unlawful Possession Of Firearms

Las Vegas man DaJuan Lamar Gamble, also known as “Popeye,” sentenced to seven years in prison for unlawful possession of firearms.Photo byGuido CoppaonUnsplash

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada, announced today that DaJuan Lamar Gamble, also known as “Popeye,” was sentenced to 84 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawful possession of two firearms after an exchange of gunfire on Fremont Street.

According to court documents, on September 1, 2022, Gamble, 40, fired three shots from a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm semi-automatic pistol at a stopped SUV from a motel walkway on East Fremont Street.

The passenger of the SUV returned fire. No injuries were reported.

Security cameras at the motel captured the incident, leading the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to recover the 9mm pistol and a Norinco MAK-90 7.62 x 39mm semi-automatic rifle hidden in a black bag inside the motel's boiler room.

A records check revealed the 9mm pistol had been stolen from Dallas, Texas. Forensic analysis of the handgun found trace DNA evidence that matched Gamble.

Gamble pleaded guilty in October 2023 to being a felon in possession of firearms, a charge stemming from his prior felony convictions, which include attempting to discharge a firearm at an occupied structure, accessory to murder, possession of stolen property, and possession of controlled substances with intent to sell, the department stated.

These previous convictions prohibit Gamble from legally possessing any firearms.

"Ensuring the safety of the public is at the forefront of ATF’s mission," said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), San Francisco Field Division.

"We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to ensure that violent conduct and prohibited firearms possession are prosecuted to the fullest extent."