PHILADELPHIA — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern), published as received.
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Jamir Foushee, a/k/a “Jamir Young,” 31, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted after trial of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges against the defendant stemmed from his unlawful possession of these items while riding in his car, which was stopped by Philadelphia police in the Kensington section of the city.
The evidence presented at trial proved that, in April 2019, Foushee was riding as a passenger in his own car when it was stopped for a traffic violation by Philadelphia Police officers. After observing the defendant reach under his seat, officers discovered a handgun under that seat. The defendant then stated to officers that the other guns and drugs in the car were his. Police detained Foushee and the driver of the vehicle, searched the car, and found crack cocaine packaged for sale, as well as two additional firearms. At the time of the incident, the defendant was a convicted felon and was not allowed by law to possess a firearm.
“Less than three months ago, I vowed that our Office would continue doing everything possible to reduce gun violence in Philadelphia through our ‘All Hands On Deck’ initiative,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “And in just the last three weeks, we have delivered on that promise by securing guilty verdicts from three federal juries against defendants who illegally possessed firearms after sustaining felony convictions. Now, our efforts are multiplying; just this week the Justice Department announced a nationwide initiative to target illegal firearms and support community violence intervention programs in cities experiencing a spike in gun violence like Philadelphia.”
“Drugs and firearms are a very dangerous combination, especially while in the hands of a felon,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “We will continue our great partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to make the community safer by removing criminals like this from our streets.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David E. Troyer, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Randall Warden.
