A Richmond resident, Tajon Rasheed Baskerville, 35, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on February 23, 2025, officers from the Henrico County Police observed Baskerville going through a purse that had reportedly been stolen from a nearby vehicle. During a pat-down search, an officer discovered a firearm in a holster on Baskerville’s hip. When confronted, Baskerville pulled away and struck the officer. As the officer fell, Baskerville drew his weapon but then discarded it before attempting to flee. The officer recovered the firearm and apprehended Baskerville.
Police found items belonging to the purse’s owner in Baskerville’s pockets and discovered the owner's wallet in his shirt.
At the time of this incident, Baskerville had multiple prior convictions including possession of a controlled substance (2010 and 2012), felony probation violations (2012, 2014, and twice in 2017), grand larceny (2015 and 2018), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2022). Under federal law, individuals with such convictions are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division worked alongside Henrico County Police Division during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. McGorman and Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was conducted under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing violent crime using resources coordinated with Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Further information about this case is available on the website for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER by searching Case No. 3:25-cr-79.
