JERMAINE LARON GORE, 33, of Tacoma, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 86 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. GORE is a street gang member with a lengthy criminal history, and was on probation from a state conviction at the time of his arrest with a weapon. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton cited his lengthy criminal history and told him there would be “no more second chances.”

According to records filed in the case, GORE was arrested on July 4, 2006, after reports of a man waving a gun outside a home in Tacoma, Washington. Officers responded and stopped the car reported leaving the scene. In GORE’s car they found a loaded Rossi .357 caliber revolver. GORE, was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his previous felony convictions, including:

*Assault third degree 1993, Pierce County
*Drug Possession, 1994, Pierce County
*Three counts of Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance, 1995, Pierce County
*Two counts Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance, 2000, Pierce County
*Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance, 2002, Pierce County
*Unlawful Possession of Cocaine, 2003, Pierce County

In asking for a significant sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi wrote to the court that the only way to protect the public was to take GORE off the streets. GORE “has an extraordinarily long criminal history. While many of his convictions were driving offenses, many are more serious violent crimes and drug trafficking activity. Gore has not been deterred by his prior contacts with the criminal justice system, and indeed was on supervision with the Department of Corrections at the time of this offense, “ Lombardi wrote in his sentencing memo.

GORE 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 King County-- has fostered close partnerships between federal, state and local prosecutors and law enforcement.

The case was investigated by the Tacoma Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.

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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