Jeffrey Scott Taylor, Firearm Possession, Colorado Springs, 2022

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – A 51-year-old Colorado Springs man is headed to federal prison for nine years after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a handgun. Jeffrey Scott Taylor received the sentence from Judge Raymond P. Moore on October 31st, following an investigation sparked by a disturbing display to a woman at an apartment complex.

The case unfolded on April 9, 2022, when Colorado Springs Police Department officers responded to a call at an apartment on Tappan Drive. A woman reported that Taylor had shown her a semi-automatic handgun during a visit, brandishing the weapon in his own home. The woman followed Taylor to his apartment, where he displayed the firearm on his coffee table. This prompted a search warrant, which officers swiftly obtained.

The search of Taylor’s apartment yielded more than just the initial handgun. Officers recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol from the coffee table, complete with eight rounds, one chambered and ready to fire. A Smith & Wesson magazine and two boxes of .40 caliber ammunition were found in the bedroom closet. Crucially, investigators confirmed Taylor had a prior felony conviction, making firearm possession illegal.

U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan emphasized the office’s dedication to tackling violent crime. “Taking illegal weapons off the streets is an important part of that,” Finegan stated. “Under federal law, felons are prohibited from having firearms, and we will hold them accountable when they break the law.” The ATF’s Special Agent in Charge, David S. Booth, echoed this sentiment, noting that those who illegally possess firearms “have made the choice to continue to live a high-risk lifestyle which often leads to more violent gun crime.”

The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Colorado Springs Police Department. The prosecution was handled by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime through community partnerships and focused enforcement.

The sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for convicted felons found to be in possession of firearms. Case number 22-cr-00162 highlights the continued efforts of federal and local law enforcement to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of those legally prohibited from owning them. The ATF Denver Field Division played a key role in the successful outcome of this case.

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