Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Jamar James (25, Ft. Myers) to four years and five months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty on July 28, 2015.
According to court documents, on January 9, 2014, James contacted a confidential informant (CI) and stated that he had a handgun for the CI to purchase. He instructed the CI to meet him at the same location where he had previously facilitated the sale of a firearm between the CI and an associate. Upon arrival at the location, the CI paid James $200. James then loaded a Hi-Point.38 caliber pistol with six rounds of ammunition and handed it to the CI.
James was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses in Lee County, including uttering a forged instrument and grand theft, and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon. He is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Fort Myers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods" Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline strategy to reduce violence in our communities.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
