A Memphis man was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison after being convicted on a felon in possession of a firearm charge, federal court records show.
Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker sentenced Percy Jackson, 39, to 235 months in prison on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the prison time, Jackson was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his sentence.
Jackson’s conviction stems from an incident on Oct. 10, 2023, when West Memphis police stopped his vehicle for a defective brake light and expired tags. Officers described Jackson as appearing nervous and sweating during the stop, according to a release from federal prosecutors.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded handgun, which was reportedly stolen, and a bag of pills containing fentanyl in the glove compartment. At the time of his arrest, Jackson was on supervised release for a prior federal firearms conviction in the Western District of Tennessee.
Jackson’s criminal history includes multiple violent felony convictions. Federal officials noted he had previously served a 15-year federal sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm, which ended with his release on Sept. 28, 2022. His record also includes five convictions for aggravated robbery, along with additional convictions for attempted aggravated robbery, facilitation of especially aggravated robbery, and other weapons charges. Prosecutors classified Jackson as an armed career criminal under federal sentencing guidelines because of this extensive history.
The case originated from a June 6, 2024, federal grand jury indictment in which Jackson faced three charges: being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. A jury convicted him solely on the firearms charge following a three-day trial.
Under federal law, Jackson’s sentencing reflects enhanced penalties based on his classification as an armed career criminal, which applies to individuals with certain violent felony convictions or serious drug offenses.
Jackson will remain under supervised release for three years after his 19-year sentence is complete.