US Attorney: La Vergne man gets 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm

Jun 11, 2019 at 11:00 am by Voice Wire

U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Tennessee

Jimmy Johnson Jr., 45, of LaVergne, Tennessee, was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to 15 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee. 

Johnson was indicted in March 2018 and pleaded guilty in February. 

According to court documents, in February 2018, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were conducting an investigation and executed a search warrant at Johnson’s home in Antioch, Tennessee. 

During the search, agents recovered 940 grams of cocaine and also recovered marijuana and crack cocaine.  Agents also recovered evidence consistent with powder cocaine recently being cooked into crack cocaine.  Two loaded semi-automatic handguns, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson and a 9mm Sig Sauer, were also found during the search. 

Johnson’s criminal history included prior convictions for possession with intent to sell cocaine; being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm; and aggravated assault.   U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr., found that Johnson qualified as an Armed Career Criminal and subject to sentence enhancement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department; and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy prosecuted the case. 

Sections: Crime & Safety