Seven Time Drug Felon Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

ATLANTA - Quinton Jackson, a/k/a Quinton Smith, a/k/a Jaquavious Dixon, has been sentenced to 21 years and 10 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of six prior drug felony offenses.  Because of his extensive prior criminal record, Jackson was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal under federal law.

“Jackson reached for a firearm when stopped for routine traffic violation, and fortunately APD officers quickly subdued him and resolved the situation without injury to anyone involved,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn.  “Unlawfully possessed weapons are a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities, especially in the hands of dangerous criminals.”

“This sentence is another reminder that ATF and our law enforcement partners will hold individuals accountable for any criminal behavior, especially that which threatens the safety of innocent civilians,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Schmidt.

“For Atlanta to be a safe city, we must continue to get repeat offenders off our streets,” said Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields.  “A routine traffic stop was the key to holding Mr. Jackson accountable for his various crimes.  Our relationships with our law enforcement partners allow us to remove not only weapons but serious criminals from the City of Atlanta.”

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court:  On August 22, 2014, Jackson was traveling through the Boulevard Corridor in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.  Atlanta police officers patrolling the area stopped Jackson’s vehicle for a traffic violation.  While approaching the vehicle, an officer noticed Jackson reaching under the driver’s seat.  Police then ordered Jackson to stop reaching and open the driver’s window so that an officer could speak with Jackson.  After Jackson refused, officers removed Jackson from his vehicle and seized a firearm from underneath the driver’s seat where Jackson had been reaching.  Heroin, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine also were discovered in a bag concealed within the console.

Law enforcement later questioned Jackson who admitted that he sold drugs, notwithstanding his six previous felony drug convictions.  Jackson also admitted that he had been reaching under the seat for the firearm because he did not want to return to prison, suggesting to the officers that Jackson would have resorted to violence to escape the law.  Later investigation revealed that during a traffic stop earlier that summer Jackson had dragged another Atlanta police officer down the road when that officer’s arm became trapped in Jackson’s vehicle as Jackson fled the traffic stop.

Because five of Jackson’s drug convictions constituted “serious drug offenses” under federal law, Jackson qualified as an Armed Career Criminal subject to an enhanced sentence.

Quinton Jackson, a/k/a Quinton Smith, a/k/a Jaquavious Dixon, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 years, 10 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.  Jackson had been found guilty by a jury on July 13, 2016.

This case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Atlanta Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Ryan M Christian prosecuted the case.