Jerel D. Jenkins, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Wisconsin 2023

LA CROSSE, WI – Jerel D. Jenkins, 29, is headed to federal prison for seven years after a chaotic series of offenses culminating in the assault of a Deputy U.S. Marshal. The La Crosse man was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge stemming from a reckless flight from police in April 2022.

The initial incident began with a simple traffic stop. On April 27, 2022, officers spotted Jenkins driving a vehicle with improper plates. Rather than comply, Jenkins floored it, leading police on a chase that ended with him abandoning the vehicle – which then slammed head-on into a detached garage with his passenger still inside. Officers discovered a loaded .380 caliber handgun near the driver’s side, and DNA linked it directly to Jenkins. He managed to evade capture that night.

The situation escalated significantly on February 16th. A coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies to arrest Jenkins led to a dangerous confrontation. When officers attempted to box in his SUV, Jenkins allegedly accelerated, ramming a dumpster and then a vehicle occupied by a Deputy U.S. Marshal. The force of the impact deployed the vehicle’s airbags and injured the Marshal. Two shotguns and ammunition were recovered from the SUV.

Jenkins ultimately pleaded guilty to possessing the two shotguns and acknowledged, for sentencing purposes, that he injured the Deputy U.S. Marshal and possessed the .380 handgun. Federal prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anita Marie Boor and Corey Stephan, argued for a substantial sentence, citing Jenkins’ repeated disregard for public safety. Judge Peterson agreed, imposing the full seven-year term followed by three years of supervised release.

While acknowledging Jenkins’ struggles with substance abuse and mental health, Judge Peterson stressed that managing those issues to avoid endangering others was Jenkins’ responsibility. The judge did note Jenkins’ good behavior while detained pretrial as a positive sign, hoping it would encourage continued sobriety and a shift toward prosocial behavior. The investigation was a joint effort by the La Crosse Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program focused on reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts targeting illegal gun possession and related offenses. Jenkins’ case serves as a stark reminder that illegally possessing firearms and endangering law enforcement will result in significant federal penalties.

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