Dustin Cullins, a 37-year-old resident of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson handed down the sentence on September 24, 2025. Following his release from prison, Cullins will serve three years of supervised release.
Cullins pleaded guilty to the charge on July 9, 2025. Law enforcement officers discovered a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun and ammunition during a probation search at his residence; both were found inside a clothes dryer. According to authorities, Cullins admitted purchasing the firearm and ammunition and stated he intended to use the weapon against his girlfriend’s ex-husband. At the time of the offense, Cullins was on state probation due to prior felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
During sentencing, Judge Peterson highlighted Cullins’s extensive criminal record and history of drug use. He stated that Cullins “is exactly the kind of person who should not have a firearm” and encouraged him to participate in substance abuse programming while incarcerated.
The case was investigated by the Eau Claire Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force—a collaboration between federal agents and local law enforcement agencies within Wisconsin’s Western District. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aiming to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reduce violent crime through coordinated efforts among multiple federal programs including OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
