Jackson, TN- John Thomas Ward, 38, of Gibson County, has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on March 17, 2021, Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Milan Highway for a welfare check of suspicious persons in the area. The deputy observed John Ward and a female standing next to two vehicles. Ward was changing the tire on one of the vehicles. Through conversation with Ward and the female, the deputy determined that the female had an active order of protection against Ward.
The deputy also detected a strong odor of marijuana and asked for consent to search both vehicles. The parties consented, and the deputy recovered a Ruger, Model LC 9, 9mm pistol in a holster on the floorboard of one vehicle. Ward advised he owned the firearm and that he was a convicted felon. The firearm had an altered serial number; it was later determined that the firearm was stolen.
Ward had previously been convicted on five separate occasions of Domestic Assault including one felony Aggravated Domestic Assault with a Deadly Weapon. At the time of this offense, he was actively under an Order of Protection prohibiting him from being in the presence of the female at the scene.
“The Department of Justice is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them, and we will continue investigating and prosecuting all domestic violence firearms related crimes,” said Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney.
On February 1, 2022, Ward entered a guilty plea.
This case was investigated by the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
On May 6, 2022, United States Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Ward to 80 months incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###