A Washington D.C. man, Jeffrey Boston, was sentenced to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The announcement came from Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – Baltimore Field Division, and Chief David Morris of the Cheverly Police Department.
According to court documents, on May 22, 2024, a Cheverly police officer responded to a welfare-check call at an intersection in Cheverly, Maryland. Upon arrival, the officer found Boston lying on his back near a bench and attempted to communicate with him. After calling for medical assistance and repositioning Boston to help his breathing, the officer discovered a black handgun partially visible in Boston’s waistband along with eight rounds of ammunition and a chambered round. Boston has at least one prior felony conviction and is therefore not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.
"This case is 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results," according to the press release.
U.S. Attorney Hayes recognized the efforts of both ATF agents and Cheverly Police officers involved in investigating this case and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Oki for prosecuting it.
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
