Ripley Man and Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Memphis, TN – Following a two-day jury trial in federal court, a Ripley, Tennessee man has been found guilty as a felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the guilty verdict today.

According to evidence presented at trial, in January 2017, the 25th Judicial Drug Task Force initiated an investigation into the illegal drug trafficking of Jason Nixon, 36. The investigation revealed that Nixon was selling marijuana out of his residence. On January 27, 2017, the 25th Judicial Drug Task Force and members of the Ripley Police Department and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Nixon’s residence. A loaded Clerke .32 caliber revolver, multiple bags of marijuana, a digital scale and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the property.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "This defendant has devoted his entire adult life to criminal activity, and his prior conviction history demonstrates his disrespect for the law and danger to the Lauderdale County community. As a result of his prior criminal behavior, Nixon may now qualify as an armed career criminal subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal custody. The people of Lauderdale County and West Tennessee are safer because of this federal conviction that will remove him from our streets."

This case was investigated by the 25th Judicial Drug Task Force, Ripley Police Department, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Biggers and Raney Irwin are prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.