Hot Springs, Arkansas – A Hot Springs resident, Carl Lee Tate, Sr., was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of firearm possession by a prohibited person. The sentencing took place under the authority of Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey in the United States District Court in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The events leading to Tate’s conviction began in June 2020 when a routine traffic stop turned into a significant legal finding. Tate, a 44-year-old convicted felon who was on parole, was stopped by an officer from the Hot Springs Police Department. Due to his parole status, Tate had a search waiver on file, which permitted law enforcement to conduct a search without a warrant.
During the search of Tate’s vehicle, the officer discovered a loaded handgun along with items associated with drug trafficking, including methamphetamine and digital scales. These findings led to Tate’s arrest and subsequent charges, given his status as a felon not permitted to possess firearms.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Achorn for the Western District of Arkansas and was part of the broader initiative known as Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This program, relaunched by the Department of Justice in 2017, aims to reduce violent crime through enhanced cooperation between various levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Tate’s sentence includes a 180-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release.
