Richmond man with criminal past receives lengthy sentence for drug and firearm possession
Richmond, Virginia – A Richmond resident, Jeremy Jermaine Blue, 35, has been handed a prison sentence of 15 years and eight months for serious criminal offenses, including drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession.
According to court records, the incident leading to Blue’s latest conviction unfolded on September 27, 2022, when he was caught attempting to deliver a large quantity of illegal drugs. Under the supervision of law enforcement, an informant had arranged to meet Blue for the purchase of a kilogram of cocaine. As he approached the designated meeting spot, police intercepted his vehicle. A subsequent search by a drug-detecting canine led to the discovery of not only the cocaine but also 48 grams of fentanyl and a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun in Blue’s possession.
This is not Blue’s first run-in with the law concerning drug-related offenses. He was previously convicted in 2009 for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Remarkably, just one month after his release from supervised probation in July 2013, he was again involved in drug distribution, this time with heroin, leading to another conviction in 2014. Given his status as a previously convicted felon, Blue is legally prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
The case concluded with the sentencing of U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, along with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Washington Division, announced the sentence.
The prosecution team included Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, who also serves as an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. Their successful prosecution underscores the ongoing efforts by federal and state law enforcement to tackle the intertwined issues of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. This case serves as a significant reminder of the severe consequences awaiting those who engage in these illicit activities.