Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Paducah, Kentucky – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of a Paducah man on August 10, 2021, for being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jermaine Tyrone Jones, 41, of Paducah, possessed a handgun on August 30, 2017, after being previously convicted of a felony offense. Paducah Police Department Officer Andrew Parrish located the handgun in Jones’s clothing after Jones’s arrest for Fourth-Degree Assault, Domestic Violence.

“Identifying and prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms is an important component of our overall effort to reduce violent crime in the Western District of Kentucky,” stated Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “I commend the trial team, the Paducah Police Department, and the ATF for their work in this case and for their ongoing commitment to make our communities safe for all citizens.”

“Cases like this show our continued efforts to reduce the amount of gun violence in Paducah,” said Paducah Police Chief Brian G. Laird. “This is another good example of inter-agency cooperation to arrest, prosecute and convict violent offenders to help keep our community safe.”

“Repeat violent offenders are a threat to the safety and security of our communities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “ATF partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies in Western Kentucky are getting results. Together, we’re making arrests and successfully prosecuting felons who illegally possess firearms.”

Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2021. Under federal law, Jones is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison.

The Paducah Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Hancock is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Cristy Crockett, paralegal.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.