Jackson, TN - The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the 228-month federal prison sentence handed down to Jason Autry, 50, following his conviction on firearm offenses in the Western District of Tennessee. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Autry, a 16-time convicted felon, was released on September 16, 2020, after serving time for being a felon in possession of a gun and after serving an eight-year state prison sentence for Solicitation of First-Degree Murder and Facilitation of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping that resulted from his role in the kidnapping and murder of Holly Bobo, a Decatur County nursing student, on April 13, 2011. Bobo's body was found over three years later.

Approximately 25 days after his September 2020 release, Autry was found in possession of a gun, which he had stolen. And within 78 days of his release, he possessed other guns and ammunition. In November 2022, he pleaded guilty to three counts of being a felon in possession of guns and ammunition.

At the sentencing hearing in 2024, the United States asked U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson to apply an upward departure from Autry's guidelines range, arguing that Autry had an egregious criminal history that was not sufficiently reflected in that range. Judge Anderson agreed and sentenced Autry to 228 months in federal prison for the gun offenses.

The Sixth Circuit upheld the 228-month sentence. It emphasized that Autry had a serious criminal past that included aggravated assault, drug trafficking, burglary, active membership in the violent Aryan Nation gang, and admitted participation in Bobo's abduction and murder. Furthermore, Autry had a reputation for violence in his community, was violent towards his romantic partners and family members, committed a racially-motivated assault, and was involved in violent altercations and drug trafficking while serving prison sentences and during pre-trial detention.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Benton County Sheriff's Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Boswell and Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. AUSA Naya Bedini assisted at sentencing and handled the appeal.

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