Colquitt Man Pleads Guilty In Federal Court To Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon Under Project Safe Neighborhoods

ALBANY: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Jarrod Sims, age 38, of Colquitt, Georgia, pled guilty today to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon before U.S. District Court Judge Leslie J. Abrams in Albany. 

Had the matter gone to trial, the Government expected the evidence to show that on May 8, 2018, officers with the Colquitt Police Department discovered a Hi-Point 9mm rifle in Mr. Sims’ vehicle during a lawful traffic stop for suspected impaired driving.  Mr. Sims admitted to the officer that the firearm belonged to him and that he was a convicted felon.  Mr. Sims was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a December 5, 2012 conviction for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Albany Division.

Sentencing for Mr. Sims will take place in approximately 90 days.  He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, on the charge.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.