FRANKFORT, KY (May 5, 2025) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today action by the AG's Louisville-based Violent Crime Reduction Team (VRT) has put a convicted felon back behind bars.
On Wednesday, Demarcus Allen, 51, pleaded guilty in Jefferson Circuit Court to Possession of a Handgun by Convicted Felon (Class C Felony). He was sentenced to five years in prison.
According to court records, when police responded to a domestic run in June 2024, Allen fled out of the back door and ran from police. After a pursuit, Allen admitted to having a handgun in his pocket. As a previously convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
"Through our partnerships with Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina Whethers, Mayor Craig Greenberg, the U.S. Attorney's Office and others, our prosecutors and investigators are building a safer Louisville. Taking criminals off the streets in this city will make every Kentuckian safer," said Attorney General Coleman. "Along with our partners, the AG's Violent Crime Reduction Team is going after the trigger pullers and other violent offenders who have no place in our communities."
Last year, Louisville experienced 310 nonfatal shootings. Since its creation, the VRT has secured 45 felony indictments. General Coleman recently expanded the VRT, which is now comprised of three prosecutors and a detective. Two of the prosecutors have also been sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, allowing them to bring the full force of both the state and federal governments against criminals to protect Kentucky families.
The Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the case. Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Violent Crime Reduction Team Critt Cunningham prosecuted the case.
Background
In October 2024, Attorney General Coleman joined Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina D. Whethers, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell, LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey and Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David L. Nicholson to announce the Attorney General's Violent Crime Reduction Team, a first-of-its-kind collaboration among their offices to combat violent crime in Louisville.
General Coleman established a new Attorney General's Office location in downtown Louisville, initially staffed by two prosecutors and a detective. The downtown office space used by the VRT was secured in partnership with the Mayor's Office and Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk Nicholson. The team is collaborating with Commonwealth's Attorney Whethers' Office to be assigned and prosecute cases.
According to an agreement between the Attorney General and the Commonwealth's Attorney, the dedicated prosecutors and investigators from the Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Unit and the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will handle select cases involving nonfatal shootings, convicted felons in possession of a firearm, Louisville's Group Violence Intervention Program (GVI) and the Prohibited Firearms Possessor program (PFP).
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