juneau man sentenced to seven years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm
Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a Juneau man was sentenced in federal court in Juneau to 87 months in prison for being a felon in the possession of a firearm.
Jayson Steven Dennis, 34, was sentenced by United States District Judge John W. Sedwick in Juneau.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that during a drug transaction, Dennis possessed a loaded .45 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol and a .40 caliber Sig Sauer pistol, which was later recovered from the purse from inside a vehicle occupied by Dennis and another individual during a traffic stop. Dennis further threatened a government witness, a confidential informant, prior to his testimony at trial.
Dennis previously entered a guilty plea and was sentenced on April 8, 2011, in state court on the underlying drug offenses charged by the State of Alaska. Dennis was convicted of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the third degree for the distribution of methamphetamine and misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fourth degree for maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of narcotics distribution. Dennis received a composite sentence of eight years on those charges concurrent to federal sentence of 87 months.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Sedwick noted Dennis’ inability to exercise self-control, violent criminal history, danger to others, the need to deter Dennis and others, and the need to protect the public as the reasons for sentence.
Ms. Loeffler commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Juneau Police Department Metro Drug Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dennis.
