EVANSVILLE — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Indiana, Southern), published as received.
EVANSVILLE- Scott A. Stagg, 54, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, on November 16, 2021, Scott Stagg was in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol as he was driving his vehicle in Evansville, Indiana. Upon seeing a police vehicle, Stagg immediately pulled to the side of the road, parked, then ran down a nearby alley. Stagg placed the gun and other items behind gas station trash containers and continued to flee the area.
Law enforcement officers pursued Stagg and located the loaded pistol, a loaded magazine, a glasses case containing a glass pipe with burnt residue, and a small amount of methamphetamine behind the gas station trash cans. Stagg was located by officers and taken into custody.
At the time of his arrest, Stagg had previously been convicted in Vanderburgh County of possession of methamphetamine, dealing in a sawed-off shotgun, and illegally possessing a firearm.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
“Armed criminals pose a serious risk to our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We will continue to work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners, including ATF and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, to protect the public and reduce gun violence. The sentence imposed today shows that those who continue to illegally arm themselves and ignore the law will be held accountable.”
ATF investigated this case with valuable assistance from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. The sentenced was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Stagg be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 1 year following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
