ATLANTA—Jermaine Eric Gibson has been sentenced to six years in federal prison after being found guilty by a federal jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“Gibson, previously-convicted felon and a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, refused to recognize the laws of the United States and lived lawlessly by taking over an upscale home that was in in foreclosure, and possessing a firearm,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “A jury held him accountable under the laws of the United States when it found him guilty in May, and today a court sentenced him to six years in federal prison.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: In March 2013, Jermaine Gibson, a self-professed sovereign citizen, unlawfully took over and resided in a foreclosed home located in an upscale, gated community in Lithonia, Georgia. At the time he moved in, however, the home was under contract to be sold, and the buyer was not Gibson. Gibson declared ownership of the property after he filed a fraudulent Quit Claim deed in DeKalb County, which he then taped to the windows of the home along with other paperwork declaring that he was not subject to any laws and that anyone who came onto the premises would be trespassing. Gibson also changed the locks on the doors to prevent the lawful owner from entering the residence.

While Gibson lived at that home, several people observed long-barreled guns at that residence. Gibson later told agents that he had guns in the home to protect the home he was unlawfully occupying. Efforts to convince Gibson to vacate the property failed. Finally, on May 2, 2013, state arrest warrants were obtained based on Gibson’s unlawful occupancy of that residence. A search warrant was also obtained and executed on that same day. During the search, officers found a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver in Gibson’s bed. Gibson is a convicted felon and he cannot legally possess a firearm.

Gibson, 40, of Atlanta, Ga., has been sentenced to six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gibson was found guilty by a jury on May 7, 2014.

This case was being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Tracia M. King prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.Presse-mails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.