Gun Charge Leads to 5-Year Sentence for Jackson County Man

Billy Jack Reed, 24, of Murphysboro, Illinois, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison on a federal firearm violation. Earlier this year, Reed pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that, on February 18, 2018, Reed knowingly possessed a 9mm pistol in Jackson County. At the time, Reed was prohibited from possessing a gun because of multiple prior felony convictions. In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Staci M. Yandle also took into consideration that the gun was stolen and that Reed attempted to obstruct justice after his arrest by encouraging a witness to lie for him.

Reed’s sentence includes three years of supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Murphysboro Police Department.