FRESNO -  Darien Hatcher, 29, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 20 years and six months in prison for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

On Oct. 22, 2015, Hatcher was arrested in Fresno for possession of a loaded Ruger 9 mm pistol that was not registered in his name and had been reported stolen. Hatcher was a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. On July 18, 2016, Hatcher pleaded guilty to the charge.

While out on bond and awaiting sentencing for this conviction, Hatcher conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Fresno. On Nov. 22, 2016, Hatcher was arrested and again found to be in possession of a firearm. He was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2019, Hatcher pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fresno Police Department, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, and MAGEC. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez prosecuted the cases.