GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: In a relentless crackdown on drug and gun crime, Washington’s CEDRIC JACKSON, 35, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for distributing crack cocaine while armed. Jackson’s latest transgression came just six months after his release from federal prison.
Jackson, who was prosecuted under the federal ‘hotspot’ initiative targeting the Kent Valley region, was caught supplying cocaine to undercover officers on six separate occasions between August and October 2012. At his home, police uncovered a cache of drugs, cash, and four firearms, including a loaded Taurus .357 Magnum revolver.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly expressed concern over Jackson’s pattern of criminal activity, remarking, ‘You have a long history of convictions. You have been a career criminal in the true sense of the word. But you have so much talent – you could do so many things if you stayed away from drugs and guns.’
Released from federal prison in March 2012, Jackson swiftly returned to his criminal ways, manufacturing and distributing crack cocaine. His home search revealed a loaded Taurus Magnum revolver under his bed and three additional firearms in his garage.
In seeking the maximum sentence, prosecutors argued that Jackson’s history of violent crimes and unlawful firearm possession posed a significant threat to public safety. ‘A significant term of imprisonment is warranted in this case to protect the public from further crimes of defendant Cedric Jackson,’ they wrote.
Operation Down in the Valley, which resulted in Jackson’s sentence, was part of an extensive hotspot initiative aimed at curbing gang violence and illegal drug sales in Kent, Renton, and Tukwila. The operation removed nearly 14 pounds of methamphetamine from the streets, along with cocaine, heroin, and prescription drugs.
Conducted by the ATF, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, and various local law enforcement agencies, Operation Down in the Valley followed a successful hotspot initiative in White Center in 2011. Assistant United States Attorney Justin Arnold prosecuted Jackson’s case.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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