Jahmal Sanders, a 30-year-old resident of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced on Apr. 1 to 192 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a stolen firearm. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
The case is significant because it highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address violent crime and gun violence within communities.
Sanders’ sentence includes 144 months to be served consecutively with his current state sentence and an additional 48 months to be served concurrently. After completing his prison term, he will serve two years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred said, “This is a great example of how Project Safe Neighborhoods partners the intelligence and efforts of local law enforcement with the investigative resources of the federal government to make our community, and nation, safer. A previously convicted robber and burglar is going to prison for possessing five guns, one of which was stolen in a burglary. He is also currently serving a separate sentence for rape, and he will then be punished for these crimes. We are thankful for the fine work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Gang Response Investigative Team Task Force and the Hammond Police Department to put this violent criminal behind bars.”
Court documents show that on February 10, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sanders’ residence in Hammond where they found five firearms—one reported stolen during a burglary earlier that day. Sanders has previous felony convictions for robbery and burglary which prohibit him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. He is currently serving a thirteen-year sentence for rape out of Lake County.
The investigation involved cooperation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Gang Response Investigative Team Task Force and the Hammond Police Department; Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to bring together all levels of law enforcement with communities they serve in order to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
