Lincoln Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Possession of Drugs and Firearm

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Perrion Bluford, 23, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 23, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska following his conviction for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Bluford to 5 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bluford is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Bluford pleaded guilty to both offenses on July 27, 2023.

Police learned that Bluford was distributing illegal drugs and using social media accounts to advertise the sale of drugs. Police obtained a search warrant for Bluford’s apartment and searched his apartment on January 13, 2021. In Bluford’s bedroom, police located 79 suspected MDMA pills, 3.2 pounds of suspected marijuana, and other suspected prescription medications. Police also found a Masterpiece Arms 5.7 by 288 mm pistol, which was loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, police located other items consistent with the distribution of illegal drugs, and $8,015 in United States currency.

A sampling of the seized drugs was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory. The first submitted sample tested negative for the presence of controlled substances. A second sample was then submitted for testing. Some of the suspected marijuana was confirmed to be marijuana. Had the cases proceeded to trial, a drug investigator would have explained that those involved in drug dealing sometimes sell counterfeit or fake drugs to unsuspecting customers.

On a separate occasion, police were conducting surveillance of Bluford on November 2, 2022. They saw him leaving a barber shop with another person when the police attempted to contact Bluford. Bluford ran from police. During the foot pursuit, Bluford discarded a handgun, as well as a loaded magazine for the handgun. Shortly thereafter, Bluford was apprehended. The police searched Bluford and found seven grams of marijuana in his pocket. Those drugs were also sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory and were confirmed to be marijuana.

The investigation was conducted by the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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.