Jerry Crawford, 51, Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 180 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker following his guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett said, “This sentencing shows just how seriously federal law treats the illegal possession of firearms. As this case makes clear, our office remains committed to investigating and prosecuting repeat offenders who choose to arm themselves in violation of the law.”
This is the latest prosecution in the U.S. attorney’s ongoing Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). Announced by Hogsett in March of this year, the initiative represents a comprehensive district-wide strategy to combat drug traffickers and criminals that use and carry firearms in their illegal activities through improved local collaboration and aggressive federal prosecution.
Already in 2011, the VCI has caused a dramatic increase in the number of gun-related charges – from 14 felony possession of a firearm charges in 2010 to 101 in 2011. Major drug trafficking indictments are up more than 100 percent from where they were two years ago. And drug trafficking seizures have increased by more than seven-fold over 2010 numbers.
Judge Barker also imposed 3 years supervised release following Crawford’s release from prison.
