ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Brita Lanette Jackson, 51, of Winchester, Va., was convicted today following a June 4, 2013, bench trial on charges of making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm and conspiracy to aid and abet a convicted felon in the possession of firearms. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Carl J. Vasilko, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division made the announcement after the verdict was pronounced by United States District Judge James C. Cacheris. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of ten years of incarceration when she is sentenced on September 20, 2013. Jackson was indicted on March 27, 2013, by a federal grand jury on charges of making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm and conspiracy to aid and abet a convicted felon in the possession of firearms. According to court records and evidence at trial, Jackson was observed by ATF agents on May 24, 2012, as she purchased an AK-47 style assault pistol from a firearms dealer in Manassas, Virginia. Jackson had indicated on official paperwork that the firearm was for her, but she in fact intended to transfer the weapon to a convicted felon that accompanied her to the store. Federal agents discovered an additional firearm, ammunition, and evidence of several firearms purchases during a search of Jackson’s residence in Winchester, Virginia. The firearms included high-capacity handguns and a Cobray Mac-11 pistol. Jackson admitted that she purchased between 15 to 20 firearms on behalf of the same convicted felon and that she did not know how that felon was utilizing the firearms. This case was investigated by ATF’s Washington Field Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam B. Schwartz is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov. |