Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced To Seven Years

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Asahn Brightman (24, Jacksonville) to seven years in federal prison for distribution of cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty on April 21, 2015.

According to court documents, Brightman sold cocaine to an undercover Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detective on three occasions between July 20, 2014, and September 10, 2014.  During Brightman’s arrest on the latter date, a firearm was recovered from the center console of his car.  Because of his prior felony convictions for robbery and aggravated assault, Brightman was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy.  United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline Strategy on reducing violent crime in communities.