A convicted domestic violence offender discovered with a firearm was sentenced last week to 10 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum sentence, following an investigation by the ATF Dallas Division, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

Desmond Greer, 26, pleaded guilty in March to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Dallas County Court records show that in in 2016, Mr. Greer was twice convicted of Assault Family Violence after repeatedly punching and choking the 22-year-old mother of his children – two offenses that disqualified him from having a gun.

In spite of this restriction, Mr. Greer was seen brandishing a M-15 multi-caliber rifle during a dispute with a customer at his auto shop, federal prosecutors said.

“Federal law forbids convicted abusers from carrying guns – in part because research shows domestic violence offenders are five times more likely to kill their partner when there’s a gun in the home,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “Prosecuting offenders who violate these domestic violence firearm restrictions is homicide prevention, plain and simple.”

“Mr. Greer is a convicted felon with a history of domestic violence offenses,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Division Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “When prohibited people and abusers unlawfully possess firearms, the probability of intimate partner homicide increases substantially. This sentence ensures Mr. Greer will not be a threat to the public, or to his family, for a very long time.”

The case was brought as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Domestic Violence Initiative, a push to fight domestic violence using federal firearm laws, which prohibits convicted abusers from possessing guns.

The prosecution is also part of Project Guardian, the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence using federal firearm laws.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Boyle prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn handed down the sentence.