DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GRETCHEN C.F. SHAPPERT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2008

CONTACT: SUELLEN PIERCE
704.338.3120
FAX 704.227.0264

CHARLOTTE MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON, POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE AND COCAINE BASE AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING AND IN RELATION TO A DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME Sentence of 26+ Years Received Following Entry of Guilty Plea in Federal Court CHARLOTTE, NC - Jerry Thomas Collins, 41, of Charlotte, North Carolina was sentenced in federal court in Charlotte Monday to a total of 322 months (26 years and 10 months) in federal prison on counts of Possession of Firearm by Felon; Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine Base, and Possession of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime, announced United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert.

The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Frank D. Whitney. Shappert was joined in the announcement by Chief Darrel W. Stephens, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Police Department. Collins pleaded guilty to all of the charges contained in a bill of indictment. Collins’ prior criminal history qualified him as a Career Offender and an Armed Career Criminal. “This office has made prosecution of Armed Career Criminals and Career Offenders a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Shappert. “This case illustrates the long sentences criminals who spend their lives committing violent crime will face in federal court.”

The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Gleason. The case was investigated by Detective Scott Shipman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.