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Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Middle District of Florida
Roger B. Handberg, United States Attorney
www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl
For Immediate Release
Friday, December 22, 2023

Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Pocols Lashawn Jackson, 39, of Jacksonville to six years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jackson had pleaded guilty on Aug. 22.

According to court documents, on Nov. 21, 2022, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff conducted a traffic stop of Jackson’s vehicle due to Jackson not wearing a seatbelt. A vehicle search was conducted due to the smell of marijuana coming from the car. During the search, a loaded semi-automatic pistol was found under the driver’s seat. At the time, Jackson had nine prior felony convictions. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

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