Vanessa Roberts Avery, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Shacquille Jackson, a 31-year-old resident of Bridgeport, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill delivered the sentence in Bridgeport. Following his imprisonment, Jackson will undergo three years of supervised release due to his illegal possession of firearms.
Court documents reveal that on January 18, 2023, law enforcement identified Jackson driving a vehicle with mismatched license plates while he had an outstanding arrest warrant related to a domestic violence incident. Upon being stopped by officers, Jackson fled the scene carrying a gun but was soon apprehended after dropping the weapon. The subsequent search uncovered approximately 87 grams of cocaine, 19 grams of crack cocaine, $1,167 in cash on his person, and inside his car a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine loaded with 18 rounds and a digital scale.
Jackson's criminal record includes felony convictions for firearm offenses as well as narcotics-related crimes and various property crimes such as robbery and burglary within Connecticut. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms that have traveled through interstate or foreign commerce.
Since his arrest, Jackson has remained detained. He pleaded guilty on September 18, 2024, to charges of unlawful possession of firearms by a felon.
The investigation into this case was conducted by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Fairfield County Auto Theft Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham prosecuted the case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This initiative aims to reduce gun violence and other violent crimes through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
In May 2021, the Justice Department enhanced its violent crime reduction strategy supporting PSN by focusing on building community trust and legitimacy; backing community organizations that prevent violence; establishing strategic enforcement priorities; and evaluating outcomes.
For more details about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit www.justice.gov/psn.