Joe Terry, Armed Crack Dealer Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison, Florida 2013

Armed Crack Dealer Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison

In a significant blow to Jacksonville's crime scene, U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Joe Terry, 38, to eight years in federal prison for distributing cocaine base and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Terry pleaded guilty on February 26, 2014, after a federal search warrant was executed at his residence on August 29, 2013. During the search, ATF agents recovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol from inside the house.

According to court documents, Terry was selling 'crack cocaine' from a house on Cinnamon Tea Lane. ATF agents utilized a confidential informant to make an undercover purchase of 'crack cocaine' from Terry, during which he displayed a Glock firearm.

Terry's arrest was a result of an ongoing investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot as part of the 'Project Safe Neighborhoods' program.

The case highlights the importance of this nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, and Trevor Velinor, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, are coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort in the Middle District of Florida.

Terry's sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of armed drug trafficking. The community can rest assured that law enforcement is working tirelessly to keep our streets safe.

Defendant's Information:

Defendant Name: Joe Terry

Criminal Charges: Distributing cocaine base and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

City and State: Jacksonville, Florida

Date of Arrest: August 29, 2013

Sentence: Eight years in federal prison

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/armed-crack-dealer-sentenced-eight-years-prison