PHILADELPHIA, PA — Nafiysh Knox-Schenck, 33, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 39 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon, following an incident last year involving a failed attempt to evade arrest. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Joel H. Slomsky.
The charges stemmed from a May 13, 2024, encounter with Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) officers attempting to arrest Knox-Schenck on an outstanding warrant. During the struggle, he pulled a loaded firearm from his waistband and tossed it into the street. A bystander moved the weapon to a wooded area nearby before it was eventually recovered by police. Shortly after being restrained, Knox-Schenck managed to escape from a police vehicle but was arrested two days later, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf emphasized the importance of prosecuting felons who illegally possess firearms. “Knox-Schenck knew he wasn’t allowed to have a gun, given his criminal record, but he didn’t let that stop him. Every illegal firearm taken off the street makes the community safer.”
Echoing this sentiment, Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division, reinforced the agency’s commitment to keeping firearms out of the hands of those who pose risks to public safety.
The ATF and Philadelphia Police Department investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracie J. Gaydos, on assignment from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
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