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Press Release

Violent Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Gun Crimes

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Indiana

EVANSVILLE – Nathaniel J. Jacobs, Sr., 54, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and witness tampering. Jacobs was found guilty on June 2, 2022, following a three-day federal jury trial.

According to documents and evidence introduced in court, on January 31, 2020, Jacobs was admitted to a local hospital for a gunshot wound to his hand. At the hospital, he told law enforcement officers that he accidently shot himself with one of the three guns he had at his home. Jacobs is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his numerous felony convictions, including multiple crimes of violence. Law enforcement searched Jacobs’ home pursuant to a warrant and found three handguns, ammunition, and approximately 7 grams of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine had been divided into smaller amounts and prepackaged in plastic bags for easy distribution.

After being indicted by a federal grand jury, Jacobs contacted a material witness on several occasions via telephone and video calls. During those calls, he falsely told the witness that she was under criminal investigation for shooting him in the hand, and the two of them needed to get married to legally protect themselves. Jacobs believed that his marriage to the witness would prevent her from testifying against him at trial. Jacobs told the witness that they could get divorced after the case concluded.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Indianapolis, made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Evansville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Jacobs be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Todd Shellenbarger who prosecuted this case.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Updated September 2, 2022

Topics
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses