Bean Town Times

A Taunton man has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegal firearm possession. On November 15, 2024, Jermaine Rodrigues, aged 34, received his sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley. In addition to the prison term, Rodrigues will serve three years of supervised release. He had pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm following his indictment by a federal grand jury in July 2023.

In June 2022, Rodrigues was found with two Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 .300 blackout firearms. One of these firearms was equipped with a laser sight and optics on its top rail. Additionally, Rodrigues possessed nearly 100 rounds of .300 blackout ammunition.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives' Boston Field Division. The Taunton and Fall River Police Departments provided valuable assistance in the case's investigation and prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke A Goldworm and Meghan C. Cleary from the Major Crimes Unit.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce gun violence and other violent crimes through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched a strategy on May 26, 2021, to enhance PSN's efforts by fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.