Convicted Felon Sentenced to 262 Months in Prison for Firearm Possession Following Armed Standoff With Police
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jermaine Lee Walker, 45, of Quincy, Florida, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison after he pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.
“Those who repeatedly commit serious crimes are deserving of significant prison sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Our brave law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and are to be commended for apprehending this armed career criminal and bringing his reign of violence to an end. This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses.”
Court documents reflect that on April 5, 2021, the Quincy Police Department (QPD) and Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) responded to a 911 call regarding a man holding a woman at gunpoint. QPD officers arrived on scene and made contact with residents who explained a man and woman were inside, struggling over a firearm. QPD officers entered the house and found Walker struggling with his girlfriend over control of a revolver. Walker ignored commands to drop the firearm and told officers to give him five minutes and then come back. Walker kept his girlfriend between himself and officers, using her as a human shield. Walker pointed the firearm at his girlfriend and pointed the firearm at officers. GCSO deputies arrived on scene and entered the residence. One deputy was able to get a clear shot at Walker and shot him in the hip/buttock area. Walker then dropped the firearm, was arrested, and given medical attention. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the officer involved shooting.
“This sentencing is a testament to the effectiveness of the law enforcement community—local, state, and federal alike—when we partner with the United States Attorney’s Office and the community to prevent and solve community-related problems together, as well as to hold those accountable who violate the laws of our state and nation,” said Chief Timothy Ashley, Quincy Police Department.
Walker qualified for enhanced sentencing because he had previously been convicted of arson of a structure, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and two separate incidents of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Walker had been to prison on four separate occasions and was released from prison approximately six months before this offense. He was on state probation at the time of this offense.
This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Quincy Police Department, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
