Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Dwayne Eric Thompson, 39, of Jacksonville, to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Thompson was found guilty by a jury of this charge on July 11.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Thompson was arrested by Jacksonville Sherriff’s officers and his car was searched. A loaded pistol was found in the center console. During the stop, Thompson and other passengers all denied knowledge and ownership of the firearm. DNA evidence presented at trial showed that Thompson’s DNA was present on the firearm and the loaded magazine.         

Thompson is a multiple convicted felon, and at the time he possessed the firearm, he was on federal supervised release due to him previously possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. The case 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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