Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

INDIANAPOLIS- Jeremy Bullock, 45, of Indianapolis, Indiana has been sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm and possessing an unregistered “sawed off” shotgun.

According to court documents, on July 1, 2020, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers, including a SWAT team, executed a search warrant at Bullock’s residence on Summer Avenue in Indianapolis. Bullock told officers that there were three firearms inside the residence, including a “short shotgun,” an “AR” and a .380 pistol. Bullock also stated that he placed the shotgun and .380 pistol in the attic when the SWAT team was outside the residence.

While searching the residence, officers located a rifle in the kitchen behind the washing machine, the receiver for a.380 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun. The shotgun had been “sawed off.” A “sawed off” shotgun has an overall length of less than 26 inches and a barrel length of less than 18 inches and is not legal under the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Act, unless the owner is specifically authorized, and the weapon is registered with the appropriate federal authorities.

Bullock is prohibited from possessing any firearm due to his previous felony convictions of attempted carjacking, illegally possessing a firearm, resisting law enforcement, burglary, and murder.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, and Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Randal Taylor, made the announcement.

“Guns in the hands of violent criminals drive violence and death in our neighborhoods,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This convicted murderer chose to possess multiple firearms, including an ‘AR’-style rifle and a illegal ‘sawed-off’ shotgun. As we work to urgently reduce gun violence, investigation and federal prosecution of the most dangerous armed criminals is a top priority. We are grateful to our partners at IMPD and ATF for ensuring that this defendant is disarmed and behind bars.”

ATF and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Bullock be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who prosecuted this case.

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.