Jackie Jermaine Watson, a 30-year-old Columbia resident, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This sentence will be served consecutively to the state prison term he is currently serving for violating probation.
According to investigators, on April 22, 2024, officers from the Columbia Police Department responded to a motel on North Main Street regarding a stolen moped. After locating the moped, officers were confronted by Watson, who admitted to purchasing it from a drug user. A search warrant was obtained for Watson’s motel room, where police found a .40 caliber pistol, 62 grams of crack cocaine, 473 grams of marijuana, Watson’s driver’s license and court paperwork. Officers also recovered the key to the moped.
Watson has previous convictions including assault and battery first degree, possession of a stolen pistol, and burglary. At the time of this incident, he was on state probation related to his prior conviction for possession of a stolen pistol. He had also participated in Project Ceasefire in Columbia—a program designed to help probationers avoid reoffending by connecting them with social services and warning them about expedited prosecution for future crimes.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Watson to 60 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. The federal sentence will begin after completion of his current state sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates law enforcement efforts at all levels with community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence. In May 2021, PSN launched an updated strategy focusing on building trust within communities, supporting prevention through local organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and tracking outcomes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Columbia Police Department investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sanford is prosecuting.
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