Selma felon sentenced to eight years for unlawful possession of firearm

A man from Selma was recently sentenced to eight years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. 

An announcement from U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello said that Marquavius Benjamin, 25, was found to be in possession of a Glock on Oct. 4, 2024 after Selma police were called to Creekside Apartments on a report about a stolen vehicle. 

When an officer responded to the scene and spoke to the victim they were alerted to noises that prompted the officer to investigate. Shots were then heard and the officer called for backup. 

The announcement stated that the officer's body cam captured footage of Benjamin approaching him before handing over a Glock, semi-automatic pistol, though he resisted arrest and told the officer that he had "better call for backup". 

Benjamin then began walking away but made an "aggressive move" when the officer tried to arrest him. A taser was deployed on Benjamin and he was taken into custody. 

Afterwards it was found that Benjamin was a felon and that the gun had been reported through the Selma Police Department. Benjamin had been convicted of Robbery in the First Degree in 2018, Felony Murder and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle in 2024, and Escape in the Third Degree in 2024.

“Together with our partners in law enforcement in Selma and Dallas County, we will continue our mission to bring to justice those who illegally possess guns,” said Costello. “Our communities are safer today thanks to the dedicated men and women in law enforcement helping to remove criminals from our streets.”