Houston felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violation in Jefferson County

BEAUMONT, Texas– A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Ashton Jherimiah Robertson, 25, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Oct. 31, 2023.

According to information presented in court, on May 7, 2021, Robertson was pulled over in Beaumont for not wearing a seatbelt.  During the stop, law enforcement officers discovered Robertson had outstanding warrants from Beaumont and Harris County.  Robertson was arrested and the vehicle was searched.  During the search, officers discovered a firearm.  Further investigation revealed Robertson was a previously convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. 

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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