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Ohio man sentenced to over eight years for federal gun crime

William S. Thompson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia

Jermaine Demaul Cathey, a 43-year-old resident of Columbus, Ohio, received an eight-year and six-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. This sentencing comes as a result of his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating supervised release.

Court documents reveal that on April 20, 2023, law enforcement arrested Cathey during a traffic stop in Huntington. The arrest was based on an outstanding warrant from Ohio. During the search of the vehicle he was driving, officers discovered a loaded SCCY model CPX-1 9mm pistol under the center console. Cathey admitted to possessing the firearm.

Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Cathey's criminal history includes aggravated robbery in Franklin County, Ohio on August 28, 2006; being a felon in possession of a firearm and attempting to commit a felony in Cabell County Circuit Court on January 17, 2013; and another charge for being a felon in possession of a firearm in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 11, 2017.

After towing the vehicle involved in the incident, officers executed a search warrant which led to the seizure of approximately 75 grams of fentanyl, six grams of methamphetamine, and two grams of cocaine base or "crack."

At the time this offense occurred, Cathey was serving supervised release due to his previous conviction in 2017 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His current sentence includes one year and three months for committing an offense while under supervised release.

United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentencing and praised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Huntington Police Department for their investigative efforts.

The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted this case.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.

Further details can be found on PACER by searching Case Nos. 3:23-cr-179 and 3:17-cr-73 or visiting the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for Southern District West Virginia.