Memphis, TN – Jeremy Pruitt, 33, has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in Court, on May 8, 2018, Memphis Police officers pulled over a vehicle on Depass Street because the people inside were not wearing their seatbelts. The driver side rear passenger, Jeremy Pruitt, got out of the car and would not obey officer commands. The officer saw a firearm in Pruitt’s hand as he exited the vehicle. As Pruitt ran from law enforcement, he stumbled. A scuffle ensued and Pruitt attempted to take the officer’s drawn service firearm. Pruitt broke away and began to raise his hand to shoot the officer. As a result, Pruitt was shot in the hand. The officer’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) captured the entire scene.
Memphis Police officers continued their search and located Pruitt at a residence on Salem Avenue. Law enforcement knocked on the door, an occupant answered the door and told police that he had the person they were looking for. Pruitt was sitting on the couch near the front door. This was recorded on the BWC. After officers took Pruitt into custody, they began to search for his firearm. The loaded firearm was found on the fence line in the yard behind the residence on Salem. This was also recorded by the officer’s BWC. As a result of his prior felony conviction, Pruitt is prohibited by federal law from possession of firearms or ammunition.
Pruitt admitted to law enforcement to possessing the firearm, and on December 19, 2019, Pruitt pled guilty in U.S. District Court to possessing the firearm.
On September 17, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Pruitt to 92 months in federal prison followed by two years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to both the community and law enforcement, as seen in this case. This sentence is just punishment for such a brazen attack on police, and will incapacitate Pruitt from committing additional gun violence for a significant period of time, making us all safer.”
The Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.