MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Raymond Jackson, 52, Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 30 months in federal prison for possessing two firearms and ammunition as a felon.  Jackson pleaded guilty to the charge on December 17, 2018. 

On January 28, 2017, Price County law enforcement recovered two firearms and ammunition from Jackson’s vehicle during a traffic stop for operating while intoxicated.   Jackson initially was charged in state court, but he absconded from his pretrial supervision and failed to appear for court.  He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury and arrested by law enforcement in Chicago in September 2018. 

In selecting a 30-month sentence, Judge Peterson noted Jackson’s lengthy criminal history, which included prior convictions for burglary, robbery, possession of a controlled substance, theft, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, criminal damage to property, and domestic battery.  Judge Peterson also noted that one of the firearms Jackson possessed had an obliterated serial number. 

The charge against Jackson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Price County Sheriff’s Office; Phillips Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Chicago Police Department Fugitive Apprehension Unit; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Price County District Attorney’s Office.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin. 

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.