Convicted Felon Sentenced To Prison For Trying To Illegally Buy A Pistol (DOJ)

Jacksonville, Florida - Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Jason Harris (43, Palm Coast) to two years and four months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. Harris entered a guilty plea on April 10, 2024.

According to court documents and records, on May 22, 2023, Harris attempted to purchase a .22 caliber pistol from a gun store in Bunnell. At the time, Harris had multiple prior felony convictions, including robbery, felony battery and sale of cocaine. During the attempted purchase, Harris made a false statement on an ATF Form 4473, indicating that he was not a convicted felon. Because of his prior convictions, Harris is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This is another case identified through the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.