Indiana Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Damarion Jackson, 21, Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 21 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Jackson pleaded guilty to this charge on August 28, 2024.

On November 4, 2023, Jackson was a passenger in a high-speed car chase in Monona, Wisconsin. Police officers were able to disable the car, forcing the driver to stop. Jackson fled on foot carrying a small bag. Officers found Jackson hiding between two residential fences with the bag nearby. In the bag there was a loaded Glock 29 10mm handgun with an extended magazine and equipped with a machinegun conversion device.

A machinegun conversion device is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully functioning machinegun. A handgun with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger.

Jackson is not legally permitted to possess firearms or ammunition because of a prior felony conviction.

At sentencing, Judge Conley commented on Jackson's escalating conduct and the dangers of having a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Judge Conley also noted that Jackson had "started a criminal lifestyle" at a young age, but expressed hope that this conviction would be a turning point for Jackson.

The charge against Jackson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Monona, Madison, and Fitchburg Police Departments. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the investigation. The task force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff's Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Glinzak prosecuted this case.

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department's program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.