A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to six years in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine, where Judge Nancy Torresen handed down the sentence to 31-year-old Jermaine Gillespie. In addition to the prison term, Gillespie will undergo three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Gillespie pleaded guilty to the charges on August 26, 2024. The case stems from an incident in September 2022 when Biddeford police officers responded to reports of someone smoking marijuana in a parked vehicle. Officers identified Gillespie and discovered he was violating bail conditions that barred him from using or possessing marijuana. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a 9 mm pistol.
Due to previous convictions, including a 2013 conviction for assault and battery with serious bodily injury and carrying a dangerous weapon in Massachusetts, Gillespie is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Biddeford Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched a strengthened strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
