Jackson, TN – John Davidson Long, 28, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon unlawfully possessing a stolen firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on September 9, 2020, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Jackson Police Department’s Gang Enforcement Unit was monitoring the overt ‘Police’ cameras in the Parkway East Apartment Complex at Carver Cove in Jackson, Tennessee, because a large number of Vice Lord gang members had gathered in that area. While monitoring the cameras, Long was observed standing outside of a car with a black handgun protruding from his waistband. As a convicted felon, Long is prohibited from possessing firearms.
As officers responded to the area, Long got into the passenger seat of a black Nissan Altima and fled. JPD Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for a window tint violation. Jocelyn Kidd was identified as the driver of the vehicle, and Long was the front seat passenger. Ms. Kidd gave law enforcement consent to search the vehicle. During the search, officers located a black Taurus .9mm handgun hidden inside a dash panel in front of where Long had been seated. That handgun matched the description of the firearm that the officer observed protruding from Long’s waistband. The handgun was loaded with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the magazine. Further investigation revealed the firearm was stolen in August 2020.
On January 27, 2022, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Long to 120 months’ imprisonment – the maximum sentence allowed by law for possessing a stolen firearm. He will also serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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