Bean Town Times

A Fitchburg man was sentenced yesterday in Worcester federal court for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Satron Pridgen, 45, received a sentence of three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman. In May 2024, Pridgen pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 16, 2023, Pridgen was outside Mill City Pub in Fitchburg when an altercation occurred between two men. During the incident, Pridgen approached a third man from behind, placed him in a chokehold, and used a loaded pistol to beat him on the head multiple times. Law enforcement intervened, leading Pridgen to flee and attempt to discard the firearm by a dumpster before being apprehended.

Pridgen is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to several prior convictions out of Worcester Superior Court. These include a November 1999 conviction for assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, resulting in a 9-10 year state prison sentence; an October 2011 conviction for armed assault with intent to rob, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a career criminal with a 10-12 year state prison sentence; and another October 2011 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of cocaine, which led to another 9-10 year state prison sentence.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Boston Division; and Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce gun violence and other violent crimes through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on principles such as fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting community-based violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

###