Department of Justice

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced James Aaron Anderson, Jr. (37, Jacksonville) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Anderson had pleaded guilty on July 2, 2019.

According to court documents, on August 3, 2018, at approximately 2:00 a.m., an officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), in a marked patrol unit, began following a Chevy Tahoe due to signs of a possibly impaired driver. As the officer began to turn on his emergency lights, the Tahoe made a quick lane change in an effort to evade the marked unit. The Tahoe then fled at a high rate of speed, as multiple JSO marked units pursued it. The Tahoe eventually became stuck in a grassy area when it attempted to turn around. JSO officers arrested the driver, whom they identified as Anderson, the sole occupant in the vehicle.

A search of Anderson’s jacket revealed a .22 caliber revolver, loaded with six rounds of ammunition, and drugs. Subsequent investigation by law enforcement determined that Anderson had been previously convicted of eight prior felonies, including six serious drug offenses, qualifying him as an Armed Career Criminal.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin C. Frein and David B. Mesrobian.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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