Hammond Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

HAMMOND- Jonathan X. Hall, 26 years old, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. 

Hall was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, on January 26, 2026, law enforcement observed a video Hall posted on Facebook of him possessing a black and silver 9mm handgun while walking down the 5600 block of Walter Avenue in Hammond, Indiana.  Law enforcement subsequently learned Hall had a prior 2023 felony domestic battery conviction, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. On February 20, 2026, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle where Hall was a passenger and recovered the black and silver 9mm handgun that he earlier possessed in the video he posted. 

“Jonathan Hall was sentenced today to federal prison for knowingly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The defendant’s actions demonstrate his disdain for civil society and make him a continual threat to the safety of our communities.  This successful prosecution was made possible by the strong working relationships and seamless collaboration between the Hammond Police Department and the Alcohol, Tabacco, and Firearms Administration. Together, these agencies remain dedicated to removing dangerous weapons from the hands of violent offenders and maintaining safe neighborhoods for all residents. This sentence sends a clear message that illegal firearm possession will not be tolerated, and our collaborative law enforcement partnerships will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes," said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with the assistance of the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.               

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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