Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm During a Domestic Violence Incident

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Jeremy Rubin, 32, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Robert R. Summerhays, to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

On August 19, 2018, Lafayette Police Department officers responded to a domestic disturbance call. When they arrived on the scene, officers made contact with Rubin’s girlfriend who explained that Rubin had threatened her, then directed her into a bedroom, placed a handgun to her head and stated that she did not deserve to live. Rubin denied having a firearm, but the victim advised the officers that Rubin had secured the firearm inside a case in his vehicle. A search warrant was granted for the vehicle and a Hi-Point C9 9mm firearm and six bullets were recovered from a case bearing Rubin’s name. A check through NCIC revealed that the firearm had been reported stolen.

Rubin has a prior 2008 felony robbery conviction. As a result of his prior felony conviction, Rubin is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

At sentencing, Rubin faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, as well as forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition related to this offense.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN plays a major role in the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.