John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, announced that JIVON JOHNSON, 32, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking guns into Connecticut. Judge Underhill also ordered Johnson to perform 300 hours of community service while on supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that Johnson, who formerly resided in Bridgeport, was using the Snapchat app to advertise the sale of firearms that he had acquired in Georgia and would transport to Connecticut to sell. Investigators subsequently viewed multiple images, or “Snaps,” from Johnson’s Snapchat account advertising the sale of numerous firearms and ammunition, include several high-powered firearms and extended magazines. On September 22, 2018, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of a handgun and two magazines from Johnson in Bridgeport.
Johnson was arrested in Georgia on October 3, 2018. After his arrest, Johnson admitted that he had traveled to Connecticut on seven occasions over approximately 18 months and sold at least 30 guns in Bridgeport during that time.
Johnson’s criminal history includes felony convictions for firearm and narcotics offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Johnson has been detained since his arrest. On June 24, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This matter was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Richards.
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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.
