MEMPHIS, TN – In a stunning affirmation of justice, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 108-month federal prison sentence for Jaquan Bridges, 22, following his conviction for possession of a machinegun in Tennessee. The grim saga began with a high-speed chase and gunshots fired at law enforcement officials.
Bridges was observed by a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy on February 1, 2022, driving erratically near I-240 and Walnut Grove. After ordering him to put his phone down, Bridges opened fire on the deputy’s vehicle, leading to a harrowing 10-mile pursuit. His reckless escape ended with multiple crashes and significant property damage.
Deputies recovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device during their arrest of Bridges. On February 6, 2024, Bridges entered a guilty plea for possession of a machinegun. Senior United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced him to 108 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
On appeal, Bridges argued that his Second Amendment rights were violated. However, the Sixth Circuit ruled on August 7, 2025, that the federal statute regulating machinegun possession was constitutional. This landmark case followed the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program dedicated to reducing violent crime and gun violence across communities. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department led the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo prosecuted the case and handled the appeal on behalf of the government.
For more information, contact USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov or follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or X at @WDTNNews for updates.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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