Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Sheldon Lamont Jackson (43, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Due to his status as an Armed Career Criminal, he faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, during a traffic stop, a deputy with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office discovered a loaded, semi-automatic handgun hidden under the driver’s seat of the car that Jackson was driving. During the investigation that followed, Jackson unsuccessfully attempted to dissuade a witness from providing information to law enforcement. Prior to his arrest in this case, Jackson had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for sale of cocaine and resisting arrest with violence, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.