Department of Justice

Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Edrick D. Jackson (28, Lake City) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and three counts of distribution of cocaine base (also known as “crack” cocaine). Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the firearm offense and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each drug offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on three separate occasions, Jackson sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant who was working with law enforcement. The sales took place at Jackson’s home in Lake City. After obtaining a federal search warrant, investigators searched Jackson’s home and located crack cocaine, two digital scales, a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol that had previously been reported stolen, and a Glock 9mm pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition. Jackson had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and therefore is prohibited law from possessing firearms.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Michael J. Coolican.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.