Federal Jury Convicts Jacksonville Man of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found Ronnie Jerome Jones (39, Jacksonville) guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Due to his multiple prior felony convictions, Jones qualifies for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 19, 2021.
Jones had been indicted on March 11, 2020.
According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Jones, a previously convicted felon sold a .45 caliber handgun to a pawn shop in Jacksonville. Jones has been convicted of numerous violent narcotics felony offenses and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. At the time of this offense, Jones had been out of prison for less than nine months.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus P. Zomorodian and Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
