Defendant Sentenced On Federal Firearm Charge

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Jason Rodney Clay of Gulf Shores was sentenced, following an October 2014 guilty plea to a charge of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Clay was previously convicted in Ohio of Breaking & Entering, Theft and Criminal Damaging in 2002; and, Burglary, Theft, Misuse of Credit Cards and Forgery in 2009. Clay was also previously convicted in North Carolina of Possession of Cocaine in 2005; and, four counts of Larceny of Motor Vehicle and Breaking & Entering a Motor Vehicle and Felony Larceny in 2007. By virtue of these convictions Clay is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

On July 28, 2014, in the early morning hours, Gulf Shores Police Officer Seth Hedley was patrolling West Lagoon Avenue when he noticed Clay wearing dark clothing and looking into several vehicles. Officer Hedley requested backup, and then made contact with Clay. When asked if he had any weapons, Clay said no. During a pat down search, a loaded Springfield XD 9 mm semi-auto handgun was found tucked in his waistband in the small of his back. Clay said that he found the firearm back by the stop sign.

On August 2, 2014, an individual called the Gulf Shores Police Department to report that his vehicle had been broken into while vacationing at a house on West Lagoon Avenue. The individual was already on his way back to Oklahoma, when he noticed his firearm was missing. He said his firearm was pushed down between the seat and the console, but there was no forced entry into the truck and it may have been left unlocked. He described his firearm by make, model and serial number, and the Officer taking the report recognized the description as the firearm that had been recovered earlier in the week from Clay.

Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a previously convicted felon is a violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1). United States District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade imposed a guideline sentence of 113 months imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

This case was referred for prosecution by Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force Officer Joseph Sullivan, with assistance from the Gulf Shores Police Department.