Jermaine Demaul Cathey, a 43-year-old resident of Columbus, Ohio, has been sentenced to eight years and six months in prison. This sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. Cathey was convicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for violating the terms of his supervised release.
Court documents reveal that on April 20, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Cathey during a traffic stop in Huntington, West Virginia. The arrest was based on an outstanding warrant from Ohio. A search of the vehicle he was driving uncovered a loaded SCCY model CPX-1 9mm pistol hidden under the center console. Cathey admitted to possessing the firearm.
Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Cathey's criminal history includes several felony convictions: aggravated robbery in Franklin County, Ohio on August 28, 2006; being a felon in possession of a firearm and attempting to commit a felony in Cabell County Circuit Court on January 17, 2013; and another conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 11, 2017.
Following the towing of the vehicle, officers executed a search warrant which led to the seizure of approximately 75 grams of fentanyl, six grams of methamphetamine, and two grams of cocaine base (commonly known as "crack").
At the time of this incident, Cathey was serving supervised release due to his previous conviction in 2017 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His current sentence includes one year and three months specifically for committing an offense while under supervised release.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentencing and praised the investigative efforts by both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.
The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor handled prosecution duties.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, enhancements were made to PSN's strategy focusing on community trust-building, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
For further details about this case or related court documents, visit PACER using Case Nos. 3:23-cr-179 and 3:17-cr-73 or check out information available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.