Jacob Murrell Wilson, a 24-year-old resident of Charleston, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison. Wilson pleaded guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The court was presented with evidence showing that on November 10, 2023, officers from the Charleston Police Department encountered Wilson at a high-crime apartment complex. Recognizing him and aware of an active arrest warrant, the officers attempted to approach him. Wilson fled immediately.
During the pursuit, officers observed Wilson reaching for a loaded pistol equipped with an extended magazine and an illegal machine gun conversion device known as a switch. He pointed the gun towards the officers before discarding it over a fence and continuing his escape.
Upon apprehension, officers found Wilson in possession of various drugs including crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana, and promethazine. The discarded firearm was recovered nearby.
Wilson's prior felony conviction for attempted armed robbery prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Wilson to 106 months imprisonment followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole available in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy focusing on community trust and legitimacy, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is handling prosecution duties for this case.
