Orange, Texas Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Violation

Lance Steven Allen Jefferson, a 36-year-old resident of Orange, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for a firearms violation, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.

Jefferson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone handed down the sentence on Feb. 1, 2024.

The charges stem from an incident on May 11, 2023, when Jefferson was pulled over by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation on IH-10 in Beaumont. During the stop, Jefferson disclosed having marijuana in the vehicle’s center console and a firearm beneath the seat. A subsequent search revealed a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat, reported as stolen in Orange. Further investigation uncovered Jefferson’s prior felony conviction, rendering him ineligible to own or possess firearms or ammunition.

The case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, a collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local authorities aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN employs evidence-based strategies, concentrating on the most violent offenders while partnering with local prevention and reentry programs to achieve lasting crime reductions.

The investigation was conducted by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn.