After a two-day trial overseen by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins, a jury has found Jeffrey Caldwell, 36, from Vallejo, guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition. This announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
The evidence presented during the trial revealed that law enforcement officers were called to the Super 8 Motel located at 2070 Solano Avenue in Vallejo following reports of gunshots heard from within the building. Upon arrival, officers found that Caldwell had barricaded himself inside his hotel room and ignored commands to surrender. A standoff lasting several hours ended when Caldwell exited the room and attempted to escape. A search of his room uncovered a privately manufactured firearm containing one round of ammunition. Due to more than ten prior felony convictions in California and Arizona for offenses such as assault, burglary, and stalking, Caldwell is prohibited from possessing ammunition.
This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the Vallejo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Campbell and Alexander Cárdenas.
Caldwell's sentencing is set for August 22, 2025, before Judge Coggins. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine. However, the actual sentence will be determined by the court after considering applicable statutory factors and federal sentencing guidelines which account for various variables.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between all levels of law enforcement and community members. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice introduced a strategy to reduce violent crime that reinforces PSN based on core principles including fostering trust within communities and supporting organizations focused on preventing violence.