Jason Anthony Knight, Gun Possession, Tennessee 2017

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Another thug with a gun is off the streets. Jason Anthony Knight, 45, of Telford, Tennessee, learned the hard way this week that a criminal record and a firearm don’t mix. U.S. District Judge Leon Jordan handed down an 84-month federal prison sentence on May 25, 2017, for Knight’s illegal possession of a handgun.

Knight pleaded guilty back on June 21, 2016, to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Court documents reveal a calculated move by Knight, who, in May 2016, brazenly inspected two firearms before ultimately purchasing one – all while knowing he was legally barred from owning either. The feds didn’t buy it.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office wasn’t fooled. Their investigation uncovered a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic firearm cleverly concealed in the ceiling above Knight’s bed. A convenient hiding place, perhaps, but not convenient enough to evade law enforcement. Knight admitted in his guilty plea that his prior felony conviction explicitly prohibited him from possessing any firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen C.T. Smith prosecuted the case, driving home the message that gun laws will be enforced. This wasn’t a random act of justice; it was a targeted strike under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is a federal initiative designed to bolster local law enforcement efforts and deliver serious consequences for gun-related crimes.

PSN isn’t about creating new laws; it’s about maximizing the impact of the ones already on the books. It gives federal prosecutors like Smith the tools to leverage local, state, and federal statutes to ensure criminals face significant jail time. Each federal district tailors the program to address the specific challenges within its community – in this case, keeping guns out of the hands of convicted felons in Tennessee.

Knight’s seven-year sentence sends a clear message: possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries severe repercussions. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s office worked together to ensure that Knight is held accountable for his actions, and that the community is a little bit safer. This case serves as a grim reminder that crime doesn’t pay, and that the feds are watching.

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