Three-Time Felon Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Alonzo Dean Jenkins, 31, of Anchorage, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve 100 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.  A jury previously found Jenkins guilty of the charge in June 2018, after a three-day trial.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 26, 2017, an APD officer stopped a 2007 BMW for a traffic violation.  The officer recognized Jenkins from prior encounters and subsequently requested back-up. Once a second officer was dispatched to the scene, Jenkins was asked to step out of the vehicle for a pat search.  Officers observed that Jenkins had an odor of alcohol on his breath along with, in plain view, a gallon sized bottle of whisky in the vehicle.  As Jenkins was standing outside the vehicle, the second officer observed a pistol underneath the driver’s seat.  Jenkins was arrested and the vehicle was towed from the scene.  A blood sample obtained from Jenkins later tested positive for methamphetamine, and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a Taurus 9mm pistol, with an obliterated serial number, loaded with seven rounds of ammunition.  

Jenkins has three prior felony convictions with the State of Alaska, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.  Jenkins also has a long criminal history of violent, firearm, and drug related offenses. 

The Anchorage Police Department (APD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Stinson.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.