JASON B. TIFFIN, 29, of Longview, Washington was sentenced Friday, June 1, 2007, in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to ten years in prison and three years of supervised release for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm (two counts), Felon in Possession of Body Armor, and Felon in Possession of Ammunition. TIFFIN was convicted by a jury on February 21, 2007, following a two day trial in front of U.S. District Judge Franklin D. Burgess.

According to testimony at trial, TIFFIN was riding in a car on November 28, 2005, when Vancouver Police officers started following the car in connection with another investigation. The car sped through a stop sign and led police on a chase. Ultimately the car crashed through a residential gate and into some blackberries. TIFFIN was found to be wearing body armor and had two .12 gauge shotgun shells. Later a citizen called police because he had found a short barrel Winchester .12 gauge shotgun along the route of the chase. About a month later, on December 22, 2005, police in Longview were executing a search warrant. As officers announced themselves at the front door, TIFFIN was seen at a second story window by a police officer at the back of the residence. The officer saw a gun in TIFFIN’s hand. Later, police located TIFFIN hiding in the attic of the residence, and a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver was found with him.

TIFFIN has prior convictions for Attempted Assault (1995), First Degree Escape (1997), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (2002) and Second Degree Theft (2002).

TIFFIN was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Unveiled by President George W. Bush in May 2001, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), is a comprehensive and strategic approach to gun law enforcement. PSN is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America by networking both new and existing local programs that target gun crime and then providing them with the resources and tools they need to succeed. Implementation at the local level -- in this case, in Cowlitz and Clark Counties-- has fostered close partnerships between federal, state and local prosecutors and law enforcement.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Vancouver Police Department, and the Longview Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William H. Redkey, Jr.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.

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