NEW ORLEANS MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR GUN AND DRUG VIOLATIONS
JABAR GIBSON, 25, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced in federal court by U. S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan to fifteen (15) years (180 months) in prison for possession with intent to distribute at least 5 grams of cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
Specifically, GIBSON was sentenced to the mandatory minimum of 120 months on the drug and gun charges. In addition, he was given a consecutive sentence of 60 months for the possession of the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In her ruling, Judge Berrigan specifically found that the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which reduced the penalties for certain crack cocaine violations as of August 3, 2010, was not retroactive and only applies to crimes committed after that date. In addition to incarceration, GIBSON was sentenced to eight (8) years of supervised release during which time he will be under federal supervision and risks additional imprisonment should he violate any terms of the release.
According to court documents, New Orleans Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on March 11, 2009 in Algiers and GIBSON, a front seated passenger, was found attempting to hide a firearm under the front seat. GIBSON was arrested and 5.4 grams of crack cocaine packaged for distribution was found hidden in his left shoe. GIBSON was previously convicted on two separate occasions in federal court for drugs charges and was on federal supervised release at the time of the arrest.
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This case was investigated by Agents of the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Violent Crime Unit.
