Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Jason Douglas Black, 37, of Noorvik, was sentenced, by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve 54 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. Black has two previous misdemeanor convictions with the State of Alaska for crimes involving domestic violence assault, and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to court documents, on July 2, 2018, Black physically assaulted his live-in girlfriend while in possession of a firearm in Noorvik, Alaska. Three days after the assault, the Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Black at his residence and executed a search warrant of his home. At the time of his arrest, Black was found to be in possession of several firearms.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Timothy Burgess noted specific deterrence for this individual and general deterrence for the community was extremely important. Judge Burgess pointed out that the community needs to know, “there are serious consequences for this type of conduct."
The Alaska State Troopers (AST) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charisse Arce and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sayers-Fay.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) Initiative’s ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities.
This case is also 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/about-project-guardian
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
