Jason Compliment, Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Indiana 2022

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Jason Compliment, 42, of Brownsburg, Indiana, is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of unlawfully possessing firearms and then offloading them to an Indianapolis pawn shop. The conviction, handed down after a two-day trial, underscores the relentless pursuit of armed criminals by federal authorities.

Court records detail how Compliment brazenly walked into a north Indianapolis pawn shop on July 16, 2022, and sold three firearms for a quick $725. Surveillance video didn’t lie – it clearly captured Compliment completing the sale and accepting a pawn ticket under his own name. It was a transaction that immediately flagged him as a prohibited possessor.

What the feds quickly discovered was a rap sheet stretching back years. The jury determined Compliment qualifies as an Armed Career Criminal due to a string of prior felony convictions in both Hendricks and Marion Counties. Those convictions include a staggering eight counts of burglary, resisting law enforcement, and possession of methamphetamine. The past isn’t just a history for Compliment; it’s a legal barrier preventing him from ever legally owning a firearm.

The details of one past crime are particularly galling: Compliment previously burglarized a church, stealing funds earmarked for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Now, his actions have landed him in the federal system, and the consequences could be severe. Each prior felony conviction adds weight to the charges and potential sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department collaborated on the investigation, bringing Compliment’s illegal activity to light. U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon presided over the trial and will determine Compliment’s fate at a later sentencing hearing. He’s looking at a minimum of 15 years and potentially life behind bars.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers of the Southern District of Indiana emphasized that this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. PSN focuses on building trust within communities, supporting local organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement efforts. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy C. Fugate and Bradley A. Blackington prosecuted the case, bringing a dangerous criminal to justice.

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