Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Illegally Trying To Buy A Firearm

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jamie Thompson (50, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Thompson faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Thompson completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Thompson indicated on the required paperwork that he was not a convicted felon. Thompson admitted this was a false statement, and that he was previously convicted of six felony offenses.

This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.  

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.       

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.