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Crime & Courts

Madison Man Sentenced to 40 Months for Illegal Firearm Possession

Curtis Bell, 56, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 3, 2026, 1:39 p.m. ET
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MADISON, Wis. – Curtis Bell, 56, of Madison, was to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin. The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson on September 3, 2026. Bell had pleaded guilty to the charge on May 18, 2026. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the case stems from an April 8, 2022, report of a stolen gun. The gun was recovered about a year later, and DNA testing revealed Bell's DNA on the handgrip and trigger. At sentencing, Bell admitted he stole the gun to pay a drug debt. Bell is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, including false imprisonment, burglary, possession of narcotics, and a prior felon-in-possession conviction. Judge Peterson said Bell's pattern of harassment and violence against women, including six convictions since 2020, was an aggravating factor, and that Bell posed an acute risk to public safety. The investigation was conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted the case.

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  1. Version 13 Sept 2026, 17:39current

    First published.

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