Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison

Memphis, TN – Jamie Thomas, 29, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on September 10, 2014, Memphis Police Department (MPD) detectives conducted a traffic stop at Nabors Way and Collins Chapel Circle. As officers approached Thomas’ vehicle he placed something in his mouth, locked the doors and rolled up the windows, to a point where only an arm could reach inside. The defendant presented law enforcement with his license but refused to turn off the vehicle.

After disobeying law enforcement’s directives to turn off the engine, the officer reached through the passenger side window, unlocked the door and turned off the vehicle. The defendant restarted the engine and accelerated the vehicle, while he and the detective struggled over control of the vehicle. Described as wearing a pink hat and pink shirt, the defendant jumped from the vehicle and ran. The vehicle was driverless, as the detective was in the passenger seat. The detective jumped from the passenger seat to the driver seat to stop the moving vehicle. While fleeing on foot, the defendant tossed a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol.

During his flight, Thomas unknowingly flagged down an undercover detective who was driving an unmarked vehicle. The defendant agreed to pay the undercover detective $200 to take him out of the area. After driving for a short time, the detective advised the defendant that he was under arrest. He then attempted to handcuff the defendant, but Thomas was able to escape again. The defendant was subsequently arrested a short time later at his residence.

When officers with the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force attempted to arrest the defendant on the federal warrant relating to the September 10, 2014, firearm possession, detectives observed the defendant exit a window and jump into another window of a second floor apartment building while attempting to escape. The defendant was arrested after making it to the ground floor.

The case was investigated by PSN Task Force, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, who have all joined together to address gun-related crimes through aggressive investigation and prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marques Young and Murre Martindale prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.